Contract College Health Insurance Coverage for Graduating Dependents
If you are a contract college employee, enrolled in the New York State
Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP), and you have an unmarried dependent
student, 19 years of age or older, who is graduating from an accredited
secondary or preparatory school, college or other educational institution,
coverage for this student will continue for three months following the
end of the month in which course requirements for graduation are completed.
During the three-month extension, your dependent will remain covered under
your family medical and/or dental plan. In order to receive this extension,
you must complete a New York State Health Insurance transaction form (PS-404)
indicating the last day of classes and removing your dependent. This
form will extend coverage for your dependent for three months. If you
wish coverage beyond the three-month extension, you must request a COBRA
application from the New York State Department of Civil Service, Employee
Benefits Division, The State Campus, Albany, New York 12239, Attention:
COBRA Unit. This request can also be faxed to the New York State Department
of Civil Service at (518) 485-5590. COBRA coverage must be applied
for within 60 days of the loss of eligibility for your dependent (in this
case, the date the three-month extension expires).
The extension of coverage also applies to high school graduates if the graduate
is 19 years of age at the time of graduation and has not been accepted for
fall admission at an accredited secondary or preparatory school, college,
or other educational institution in a qualified course of study.
COBRA allows coverage under an individual policy for a period of up to 36 months provided the graduating student does not become eligible for another group policy. The cost for COBRA coverage is the full employee and employer share plus a 2% administrative fee.
Regardless of whether you purchase COBRA coverage for the graduating student, you must contact Benefit Services to request a New York State Health Insurance Transaction Form (PS-404) to remove this dependent from your health and dental insurance coverage.
Re-enrolling a Dependent:
If your dependent(s) (who previously lost eligiblity, e.g., loss of student
status) becomes eligible for dependent status again, you may re-enroll
them under your New York State Health Insurance Program.
If you have family coverage, you must apply within 30 days from the date of the event which makes your dependent eligible or you may encounter claim payment delays.
If you have individual coverage, you must apply within 30 days from the date of the event which makes your dependent eligible. Failure to apply within 30 days will result in a waiting period and no coverage is available during that waiting period.
If you have questions concerning the extended student coverage or COBRA continuation, please contact Benefits Services at (607) 255-3936 or via e-mail at benefits@cornell.edu.