"Age 29" Dependent Coverage Extension
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On July 29, 2009, Governor David A. Paterson signed into law Chapter 240 of the Laws of 2009, which extends the availability of health insurance coverage to young adults through the age of 29. This expansion will assist young adults who do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance. This law is sometimes referred to as the “Age 29” law, because it permits young adults to continue or obtain coverage under a parent’s policy through the age of 29.
The law provides two distinct ways in which coverage may be extended: a “young adult option” and a “make available” option. Because both benefits are so different, they are described separately.
Young Adult Option
Make Available Option
The text of the bill and the bill memo are available via the following links.
- Text of the Bill (PDF format)
- Bill Memo (PDF format)
Updated 10/19/2009
