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News Release

May 3, 2010
HMSA to preserve health coverage for young adults earlier than required by new federal health care provision

Laura Lott
(808) 952-7566

The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) today announced it will allow hundreds of young adults in the Islands to remain covered on their parent’s health plan before a new federal health care provision goes into effect in September.

Health care reform legislation signed into law last month will make health coverage available to adult children up to age 26 beginning Sept. 23, 2010. HMSA, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), joined other Blue plans across the country recently in committing to implement the provision by June 1, 2010.

After reviewing the law, HMSA recognized that young people might lose their health coverage in the months ahead because of their age, graduation from school, or a change in student status. To bridge the gap between the end of the school year and the September timeframe in the federal law, HMSA decided to implement this important provision earlier than required.

“At HMSA, we’re working hard to make the implementation of the new health care reform law as seamless as possible,” said Robert P. Hiam, HMSA president and chief executive officer. “We’re pleased to be able to take this action, which we believe will enhance and preserve coverage for many young people in our community.”

Parents will be able to continue their dependents’ coverage until age 26 if the parent is enrolled in one of HMSA’s employer groups plans or individual plans. The dependent cannot have other coverage from an employer group.

For young adult dependents under age 26 who may have left their parent’s group or individual plan due to an age requirement, HMSA will allow them to re-enroll in their parent’s plan for a limited time. Thereafter, enrollment changes will be subject to regular open enrollment guidelines.

For more information, members can call HMSA Customer Relations at (808) 948-6111 on Oahu. From the Neighbor Island, members may call 1 (800) 620-4672 toll-free.

HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is governed by a community board of directors that includes representatives from health care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large. HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nationally, HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to more than 100 million members.

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