Boca Benefits Consulting Group Inc.

Due to some incompatible HTML coding in the earlier post regarding the cost example for college seniors needing temporary healthcare coverage, we were forced to delete that post. The same information has been re-posted under a new blog URL that can be found in the list of recent posts at right. Unfortunately, prior Facebook and Twitter posts will now point to a dead link. Will repost to both with the fresh link.

[Found the coding error before shutting down the blog and reloading all the software in entirety. Some HTML that we used for the Sharing function caused the format of the entire blog page to be knocked out of kilter. No data was lost. Looks like we dodged a bullet here.]

I am sending this along as an example of minimal costs to cover a 22 year old, male graduating college senior, aging out of parents’ plan(s), living in Clearwater, Florida, selecting the better of the two short term options available. The $1,000 deductible option costs $391.74 for six months of coverage. Most seniors will need seven months for $616.99 (yes… there is a big step in premiums from six to seven months) if they can enroll on Jan 1st in one of parent’s plans. See http://bocabenefits.com/short_term_med_examp.pdf for the cost details. See https://www.goldenrulehealth.com/PDF/38491-G200906.pdf for a product brochure.

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Yesterday I read the results of a survey conducted by a large national HR consulting company which indicated that only 16% of employers intend to implement the “To Age 26” provision of PPACA early to accommodate graduating college seniors. Most existing plans, which are “grandfathered” by definition (i.e., in existence on March 23, 2010) will defer making the offering until the first anniversary/plan-year date following the mandatory statute date of September 23, 2010.

The Impact

1. Many graduating college seniors will not be eligible until January 2011 when the majority of plans have plan-year dates.
2. Some will have to wait even longer if plan-year date is later than January 1st.
3. Some could have to wait as long as August 2011 if the plan has an odd summer/fall plan-year date.
4. Same goes for other “adult children” up to age 26 who thought they would become eligible immediately.

BBCG brokers permanent individual coverage. However, we also have short-term temporary coverage for this type of situation. If you know anyone who falls into the above categories, please have them go to http://bocabenefits.com/ind_health.htm where they can access a self-directed quoting service from United Healthcare’s “UnitedHealthOne” (f/k/a Golden Rule) products. The second screen following the initial zip code screen allows for selection of the short-term product.


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This BBCG blog is going to test the below sharing service and see if it is better than just an individual Facebook or Twitter link. As you will see if you hover over it with your mouse, virtually every social media is available.  If you don’t see your favorite service in the initial list, click on the “More” selection and an extended list will appear.


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Posts are getting to Facebook directly from the BBCG blog RSS feed. However, Facebook has a quirk in the way these Twitterfeed.com forwards are handled. Unlike other links on Facebook, the blog post titles (i.e., a link) in these forwards do not get handled directly. Facebook handles the link via an intermediary URL (i.e., actually some kind of PHP call code) before directing the user to a final location.

The problem: can’t get back to the original Facebook location. Browser back button will only get you back to the intermediary URL which then directs you automatically to the final location. Puts you in an endless loop.

Use your browser history or other method to access Facebook directly if you find this happening. Your log-in should still be valid.

Notified Facebook support today about this issue.

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As we indicated in a prior post, Twitterfeed.com will send all copies of posts here directly to our @bbcgbenefits Twitter account and to the Facebook account for Bob Murphy.

However, we understand that you may want to send certain posts to your own Facebook page and to your network of friends without first accessing the above accounts. To facilitate your ease of sharing we will be adding the below Facebook icon to the bottom of our posts. By clicking on it, you can share any post directly to Facebook.

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We have established an automatic publishing system whereby posts made on this blog are read from our “entries” RSS feed and sent along to Twitter and Facebook for posting on accounts maintained on those services. Our intent is broaden our readership base as much as possible.

Please refer friends and/or followers to our accounts. On Twitter please see @bbcgbenefits and on Facebook please see the account for Bob Murphy. 

If you would like to participate as an author on this blog, please contact us to receive registration information.


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CIGNA is hosting an educational teleconference on the subject of early implementation of the “To Age 26” provision of PPACA. Valuable for all employers sponsoring employee health plans (i.e., both insured and self-funded). Possibly broker and CIGNA client oriented. However, pertinent to all regardless of present carrier and/or TPA.

CIGNA teleconference registration link.

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Below from The White House Blog. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/04/27/more-support-young-adults for a list of carriers voluntarily accelerating the “age 26” provision to make in coincide with 2010 college graduation dates as of the date of this posting. BBCG expects that most all carriers will ultimately agree to this timeline.

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But we knew that some young adults graduating from college this spring could risk losing their health insurance before the provision takes effect, only to be added back onto their parents’ policy the next time their parents’ plan comes up for renewal on or after September 23rd.  That was bad news for families and bad news for insurance companies too.  Removing an individual from a health insurance plan and then adding them back on a few months later takes time, and it costs money.

That’s why on April 19, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called on leading insurance companies to begin covering young adults voluntarily before the September 23 implementation date required by the new health reform law.  Early implementation would avoid gaps in coverage for new college graduates and other young adults and save on insurance company administrative costs of dis-enrolling and re-enrolling them between May 2010 and September 23, 2010.   Early enrollment will also enable young, overwhelmingly healthy people who will not engender large insurance costs to stay in the insurance pool.

And we’re pleased to report that the following insurance companies are doing just that:

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We have received communications from both CIGNA and Aetna that they will each be implementing the “to age 26” provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act earlier than required by statute (9/23/2010).  The concern stated is the potential for a gap in coverage for those in the 21-26 age group who may be graduating from college and who would otherwise lose eligibility once full-time student status was eliminated.

Both companies are making their eligibility changes effective 6/1/2010.

Although we have not seen announcements from either Blue Cross/Blue Shield or United Healthcare, BBCG is surmising that the changes announced by Aetna and CIGNA have become the new de facto eligibility standard and that the other major healthcare insurers will follow.

Click here for CIGNA announcement. 

Click here for Aetna announcement.