Full-time University and College students can get coverage through their parents’ benefits plan…just check with the Carrier first.
…and that means that your employees that have dependent children aged 18 to 21 and older (depends on the terms of the contract) need to confirm their post-secondary school status. This should be done every year until they are no longer an eligible dependent.
If the child is no longer a full-time post-secondary student, is married, or is working full-time, then they are no longer eligible through their parent’s group insurance program.
If the child has enrolled in a post-secondary education program, then they could be eligible to continue under their parent’s benefits plan. Depending on the Carrier, the employee may be asked to complete a form providing details of their child’s post-secondary situation. However, this coverage is NOT guaranteed! The employee should contact their Carrier directly to confirm if their child will be covered.
If the child has enrolled in a post-secondary education program outside of Canada, then this brings more details into consideration. The college or university that they are attending may make it real simple by making it mandatory that all of their International Students must enroll in their school’s Medical Insurance Program. The good news is that this coverage will be guaranteed…more than likely expensive…but guaranteed!
Or, the child may also be in luck because their parent’s employer’s benefits plan is okay with covering students outside-of-Canada. However, this coverage is NOT guaranteed! The employee should contact their Carrier directly to confirm if their child will be covered.
If the child attending school outside of Canada is not covered under the attending school’s Medical Insurance Program, the school will typically ask for proof that the student is covered under an Emergency Medical Plan. There are a couple of options…TuGo and Manu are both reputable Carriers.
Located in Cambridge, ON Sharkey Group Insurance provides independent Employee Benefits advice & counsel for Small Businesses across Ontario.