Affordable Care Act FAQs

The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury have released questions and answers related to the implementation of key reform provisions under the Affordable Care Act.

The Departments maintain that the ongoing guidance reflects their approach to implementation, which emphasizes assisting (rather than imposing penalties on) plans, issuers and others that are working diligently and in good faith to understand and come into compliance with the Affordable Care Act.  The Departments anticipate issuing urther responses to questions and other guidance under the Affordable Care Act in the future.

Please click on the links below to review FAQs for various topics related to the Affordable Care Act.

• Dependent Coverage of Children to Age 26
• Grandfathered Health Plans
• Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
• Early Retiree Reinsurance Program
• Claims, Internal Appeals, and External Review
• Additional FAQs

Dependent Coverage of Children to Age 26

What plans are required to extend dependent coverage up to age 26? 

The Affordable Care Act requires plans and issuers that offer dependent coverage to make the coverage available until a child reaches the age of 26. Both married and unmarried children qualify for this coverage. This rule applies to all plans in the individual market and to new employer plans. It also applies to existing employer plans unless the adult child has another offer of employer-based coverage (such as through his or her job). Beginning in 2014, children up to age 26 can stay on their parent's employer plan even if they have another offer of coverage through an employer...