[elfish]

ORS 107.108 defines a child attending school as one that has a course load that is no less than one-half of the load that is determined by the school to constitute full-time enrollment. However, the health insurance company that provides coverage for my daughter said that she must take 12 credits to be eligible for health coverage. If full-time at her college is 12 credits, wouldn't a minimum of 6 credits make her eligible for health insurance?

[smoothy]

I would think the Health Insurance company would be allowed to tighten up what THEY require to prevent freeloaders getting over on them at discounted rates.

What State is this as the Insurance industry is regulated at the state level.

[elfish]

Oregon. Makes sense that insurance companies would have some control. I read the statute (ORS 107.108) literally to mean that a child attending school, at a minimum would be required to take a course load no less than one-half of the load that is determined by the school to constitute full-time enrollment. So a minimum of 6 credits to maintain eligibility, but that is probably to maintain the order of child support.

[smoothy]

Oregon. Makes sense that insurance companies would have some control. I read the statute (ORS 107.108) literally to mean that a child attending school, at a minimum would be required to take a course load no less than one-half of the load that is determined by the school to constitute full-time enrollment. So a minimum of 6 credits to maintain eligibility, but that is probably to maintain the order of child support.

Not familiar with what Oregon does there... but it sounds about right, as in it does make sense on the child support end. There are a lot of people who would take one credit just to keep the cash train going rather than be serious about school or get a job. And would be unfair to the payer (mother OR father) to have to extend that support to deadbeats of legal age.

[elfish]

I talked with the Oregon Insurance Division, and the Federal agency that handles these things to better educate myself. HCRA renews 9/23/10, but groups are not federally required to comply with changes for the dependent until open enrollment of their plan, unless the group chooses to make changes prior to their renewal date. After that time, federal law trumps other state laws, including the statutory definition of a child attending school. Thanks for your helpful input, Smoothy. Much appreciated.

[Fr_Chuck]

Insurance and even child custody are all state regulated laws, not Federal. In with that child support/custody may have a totally different set of rules that regulate requirements than do insurance.

[elfish]

Good information, thank you for the response!