Preexisting Exclusion Provisions for Children and Dependent Coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Hinda Chaikind
Specialist in Health Care Financing

Bernadette Fernandez
Specialist in Health Care Financing

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148, PPACA, as amended), a number of provisions directly affect access to health insurance coverage. Hereafter, “PPACA” will refer to PPACA, as amended. This report provides a description of two of the provisions in PPACA that are targeted toward younger individuals, for plan years beginning on or after six months from the date of enactment (i.e., the plan year beginning on or after September 23, 2010). PPACA prohibits coverage exclusions for children with preexisting health conditions who are under age 19, and the law also requires plans to continue to make dependent coverage available to children under age 26.


Date of Report: January 24, 2011
Number of Pages: 10
Order Number: R41220
Price: $29.95

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