This bill amends New Jersey law to mandate the continuation of health benefits for adult children with disabilities who are 26 years of age or older. It specifically requires health insurance contracts to provide coverage for these adult children if they are unable to achieve self-sustaining employment due to an intellectual disability or physical handicap and are primarily dependent on the subscriber for support. This change addresses a significant gap in current health insurance policies, ensuring that families can maintain necessary health coverage for their adult children with disabilities.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that health insurance contracts must allow for the enrollment of these adult children without being subject to open enrollment restrictions, enabling parents to secure coverage at any time. It also stipulates that insurers cannot deny coverage based on factors such as marital status or residency, and it allows custodial parents to submit claims for health care services without needing approval from the noncustodial parent. The bill is set to take effect 90 days after its enactment, reinforcing the commitment to providing essential health care services for vulnerable adult children.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17:48-6.15, 17:48A-7.10, 17:48E-32.1, 17B:27-30.1, 17B:27-30.3, 17B:27A-4.1, 17B:27A-18.1, 26:2J-10.1