Contract College Health Insurance Coverage for Graduating Dependents or Those Completing a Full Semester
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 or completing a full-time
semester 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 met or a full semester is successfully completed. For
this purpose, successful completion means that the student attended class
through the last scheduled classes of the semester. 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.
Students Who Withdraw:
For dependent students who withdraw, coverage will end on the last day
of the month in which the dependent attended classes as a full-time student
or the end of the third month following completion of the preceding semester,
whichever is later. If the dependent student withdraws from school and
does not provide documentation of attendance, coverage ends on the first
day of the uncompleted semester or the last day of the third month following
completion of the preceding semester.
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 eligibility, 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 that 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 Benefit Services at (607) 255-3936 or via
e-mail at benefits@cornell.edu