A new federal law, the CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2009, will affect group health plan coverage starting April 1, 2009.
New special enrollment rights will be required for individuals (employees or dependents) who lose Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid coverage due to becoming ineligible for either CHIP or Medicaid.
The state of Colorado had already created a special enrollment right for a child's loss of CHIP coverage, due to a parent or guardian disenrolling the child. This enrollment right allows 90 days after loss of coverage for the child to enroll in a parent's group health plan.
The new federal legislation states employees must request coverage under the group health plan no later than 60 days after the termination of CHIP or Medicaid.
