Extending insurance coverage to 20-somethings beneficial

Parents often pine for their teenagers and twentysomethings to grow up. To stand on their own two feet. Act like adults.

But when it comes to providing health insurance, some Pennsylvania families might soon find advantages to start treating them like kids again.

By an overwhelming majority, the state House voted Tuesday to send Gov. Ed Rendell a bill that would require insurance companies to offer extended coverage for children who have aged out of existing family plans to those wanting to buy it.

Young adults, ages 19-29, have the highest uninsured rate of any age group, according to national statistics. Pennsylvania is estimated to have nearly 400,000 uninsured in that age range, according to the state Insurance Department.

Ironically, they additionally are about the cheapest accumulation of uninsureds to serve, as twentysomethings -- sometimes referred to as "the invincibles" because they are at the aiguille of their bloom -- about are not ailing that much, or that severely.

Extending the allowances won't be free, however. Additional bloom affliction premiums will ultimately abatement to the families that accept to extend advantage to their children, and could run to hundreds of dollars a month, abounding experts believe.

In New Jersey, area a agnate plan was allowable in 2006, accompaniment Allowance Department admiral said 15,000 bodies are demography advantage of the continued benefits. No advice was readily accessible on the amount to consumers.