AFGE APPLAUDS REP. VAN HOLLEN FOR INTRODUCING THE FEHBP DEPENDENT COVERAGE EXTENSION ACT

Bill Extends Health Care Coverage to Young Adults

(WASHINGTON) – The American Federation of Government Employees today commended Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for introducing the FEHBP Dependent Coverage Extension Act. “This bill ensures that the dependents of federal employees will be covered through the age of 26,” said Beth Moten, AFGE Legislative Director. “Congressman Van Hollen has once again shown federal employees his unwavering support and exhibited his understanding of the burdens that young people face while making the transition into the working world.”
The recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains a provision that requires group or individual health plans that provide dependent coverage of children to make such coverage available to dependents up to age 26 at the parents’ option. Currently, Title 5 of the federal statute states that FEHBP plans can only cover dependents up to age 22. Congressman Van Hollen’s bill will amend Title 5 by giving OPM the authority to implement this change and give federal employees and their dependents that same extension for health care coverage to age 26.
“Congressman Van Hollen’s impassioned and informed advocacy on behalf of federal employees has been vital to the well-being of workers everywhere. AFGE is proud to stand by Congressman Van Hollen and support the FEHBP Dependent Coverage Extension Act,” concluded Moten.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.