Failure To Launch

In a new move to lower the number of uninsured in Arizona, Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided to allow parents to cover dependents until they turn 30 on individual, under 65 plans. As long as they aren't married they can be covered, whether they live with their parents or not and they aren't required to be students.

According to AZcentral.com:

Blue Cross researchers found that 19- to 29-year-olds in Arizona were more likely than the general population to be uninsured. Yet 75 percent of the young uninsured said they considered health insurance "very important."

This won't lower the price by much because individual/family plans charge per person. But it is likely to keep some "kids" insured at a point when they don't really have their priorities in line yet. In Colorado, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has introduced Tonik, which is aimed at the high rate of uninsured in the 19-29 year old age bracket. Tonik is more attractive to this age group with lower rates, and dental and vision coverage; but lacks brand name prescription drug coverage, which is a low risk for this age group anyway.

Colorado law says that a person up to 25 years old can be considered a dependent if they are unmarried. Most Colorado health insurance companies also require that dependents over the age of 19 be full time students.