(O) An insurer authorized to issue or deliver within the commonwealth any general or blanket policy of insurance under this section may only contract to sell any general or blanket policy of insurance, except policies or certificates which provide stand-alone dental services, with an employer if the insurance is offered by that employer to all full-time employees who live in the commonwealth; provided, however, the employer shall not make a smaller health insurance premium contribution percentage amount to an employee than the employer makes to any other employee who receives an equal or greater total hourly or annual salary for each specific or general blanket policy of insurance for all employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a carrier may enter into a general or blanket policy of insurance with an employer that establishes separate contribution percentages for employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.

(P) A blanket or general policy of insurance described in subdivision (A), (C) or (D), except policies or certificates which provide stand-alone dental services or coverage to Medicare or other governmental programs which shall be delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth, shall provide, as benefits to all group members having a place of employment in the commonwealth, coverage to persons under 26 years of age or for 2 years after the end of the calendar year in which such persons last qualified as dependents under 26 U.S.C. 106, whichever occurs first.

Summary

Requires family policies to extend coverage to children up to 26 years of age or for 2 years after "loss of dependent status," whichever occurs first.

Legal Source

M.G.L. Chapter 175, section 110; subdivisions (O) and (P) added by section 50 of Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006; last amended by section 6 of Chapter 256 of the Acts of 2008