Section 31A-22-610.5 - Dependent coverage(1) As used in this section, "child" means the same as that term is defined in Section 81-6-101 .(2)(a) Any individual or group accident and health insurance policy or managed care organization contract that provides coverage for a policyholder's or certificate holder's dependent: (i) may not terminate coverage of an unmarried dependent by reason of the dependent's age before the dependent's 26th birthday; and(ii) shall, upon application, provide coverage for all unmarried dependents up to age 26.(b) The cost of coverage for unmarried dependents 19 to 26 years old shall be included in the premium on the same basis as other dependent coverage.(c) This section does not prohibit the employer from requiring the employee to pay all or part of the cost of coverage for unmarried dependents.(d) An individual or group health insurance policy or managed care organization shall continue in force coverage for a dependent through the last day of the month in which the dependent ceases to be a dependent: (i) if premiums are paid; and(ii) notwithstanding Sections 31A-22-618.6 and 31A-22-618.7.(3)(a) When a parent is required by a court or administrative order to provide health insurance coverage for a child, an accident and health insurer may not deny enrollment of a child under the accident and health insurance plan of the child's parent on the grounds the child: (i) was born out of wedlock and is entitled to coverage under Subsection (4);(ii) was born out of wedlock and the custodial parent seeks enrollment for the child under the custodial parent's policy;(iii) is not claimed as a dependent on the parent's federal tax return;(iv) does not reside with the parent; or(v) does not reside in the insurer's service area.(b) A child enrolled as required under Subsection (3)(a)(iv) is subject to the terms of the accident and health insurance plan contract pertaining to services received outside of an insurer's service area.(4) When a child has accident and health coverage through an insurer of a noncustodial parent, and when requested by the noncustodial or custodial parent, the insurer shall:(a) provide information to the custodial parent as necessary for the child to obtain benefits through that coverage, but the insurer or employer, or the agents or employees of either of them, are not civilly or criminally liable for providing information in compliance with this Subsection (4)(a), whether the information is provided pursuant to a verbal or written request;(b) permit the custodial parent or the service provider, with the custodial parent's approval, to submit claims for covered services without the approval of the noncustodial parent; and(c) make payments on claims submitted in accordance with Subsection (4)(b) directly to the custodial parent, the child who obtained benefits, the provider, or the state Medicaid agency.(5) When a parent is required by a court or administrative order to provide health coverage for a child, and the parent is eligible for family health coverage, the insurer shall:(a) permit the parent to enroll, under the family coverage, a child who is otherwise eligible for the coverage without regard to an enrollment season restrictions;(b) if the parent is enrolled but fails to make application to obtain coverage for the child, enroll the child under family coverage upon application of the child's other parent, the state agency administering the Medicaid program, or the state agency administering 42 U.S.C. Secs. 651 through 669, the child support enforcement program; and(c)(i) when the child is covered by an individual policy, not disenroll or eliminate coverage of the child unless the insurer is provided satisfactory written evidence that:(A) the court or administrative order is no longer in effect; or(B) the child is or will be enrolled in comparable accident and health coverage through another insurer which will take effect not later than the effective date of disenrollment; or(ii) when the child is covered by a group policy, not disenroll or eliminate coverage of the child unless the employer is provided with satisfactory written evidence, which evidence is also provided to the insurer, that Subsection (8)(c)(i), (ii), or (iii) has happened.(6) An insurer may not impose requirements on a state agency that has been assigned the rights of an individual eligible for medical assistance under Medicaid and covered for accident and health benefits from the insurer that are different from requirements applicable to an agent or assignee of any other individual so covered.(7) Insurers may not reduce their coverage of pediatric vaccines below the benefit level in effect on May 1, 1993.(8) When a parent is required by a court or administrative order to provide health coverage, which is available through an employer doing business in this state, the employer shall:(a) permit the parent to enroll under family coverage any child who is otherwise eligible for coverage without regard to any enrollment season restrictions;(b) if the parent is enrolled but fails to make application to obtain coverage of the child, enroll the child under family coverage upon application by the child's other parent, by the state agency administering the Medicaid program, or the state agency administering 42 U.S.C. Sec. 651 through 669, the child support enforcement program;(c) not disenroll or eliminate coverage of the child unless the employer is provided satisfactory written evidence that: (i) the court order is no longer in effect;(ii) the child is or will be enrolled in comparable coverage which will take effect no later than the effective date of disenrollment; or(iii) the employer has eliminated family health coverage for all of its employees; and(d) withhold from the employee's compensation the employee's share, if any, of premiums for health coverage and to pay this amount to the insurer.(9) An order issued under Section 26B-9-225 may be considered a "qualified medical support order" for the purpose of enrolling a child in a group accident and health insurance plan as defined in Section 609(a), Federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.(10) This section does not affect any insurer's ability to require as a precondition of any child being covered under any policy of insurance that: (a) the parent continues to be eligible for coverage;(b) the child shall be identified to the insurer with adequate information to comply with this section; and(c) the premium shall be paid when due.(11) This section applies to employee welfare benefit plans as defined in Section 26B-3-1001.(12)(a) A policy that provides coverage to a child of a group member may not deny eligibility for coverage to a child solely because: (i) the child does not reside with the insured; or(ii) the child is solely dependent on a former spouse of the insured rather than on the insured.(b) A child who does not reside with the insured may be excluded on the same basis as a child who resides with the insured.Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session ,§ 32, eff. 9/1/2024.Amended by Chapter 327, 2023 General Session ,§ 100, eff. 5/3/2023.Amended by Chapter 32, 2020 General Session ,§ 30, eff. 5/12/2020.Amended by Chapter 443, 2018 General Session ,§ 32, eff. 5/8/2018.Amended by Chapter 292, 2017 General Session ,§ 9, eff. 5/9/2017.Amended by Chapter 168, 2017 General Session ,§ 25, eff. 5/9/2017.Amended by Chapter 297, 2011, 2011 General Session