Dependent to 31 Information

In order for a young adult to be eligible for a DU31 election option:

• the group coverage must meet certain requirements;
  
  
• the young adult’s parent must meet certain requirements; and
  
  
• the young adult must meet certain requirements.

The Group Coverage
The coverage for the employer group in which the young adult wishes to enroll:

	must be through a group health benefits plan issued in New Jersey (or the State Health Benefits Plan); and
	must allow for the enrollment of dependents.

The Parent
The young adult’s parent:

	must be covered under an employer’s group health benefits plan subject to the DU31 law; and
	must provide coverage for all family members who meet the definition of a dependent under the group health benefits plan, or must have waived coverage for an eligible dependent because the dependent is covered under another group health plan or government-sponsored plan.

The Young Adult
If both the employer’s plan and the young adult’s parent meet the DU31 requirements, the young adult may enroll if he or she:

	is younger than 31 years old, but older than the limiting age for dependent children stated in the group health benefits plan in which he or she wants to enroll;
	is a resident of New Jersey, or, if not residing in New Jersey, is a full-time student at an accredited public or private institution of higher education;
	has evidence of creditable coverage or receipt of benefits under a group health plan, a church plan, an individual health benefits plan or receipt of benefits as a Medicare recipient;
	is not covered under another group health plan, church plan, individual health benefits plan and is not entitled to Medicare as of the date that coverage under the parent’s group health benefits plan would begin (note: a young adult can have other coverage upon the date the DU31 election is made, but not upon the date the DU31 coverage becomes effective);
	does not have any children; and
	does not have a spouse, civil union partner or domestic partner.

The DU31 Law DOES NOT Require That:

• the young adult be economically dependent on the parent
  
  
• the young adult live in the same house with the parent
  
  
• the young adult exhaust coverage continued through COBRA or NJSGC
  
  
• the young adult be ineligible for other coverage
  
  
• the young adult have continuous prior creditable coverage
  
  
• the young adult have actually aged-out of any prior creditable coverage
  
  
• the young adult have ever actually been covered under a parent’s prior creditable coverage
  
  
• the young adult demonstrate insurability
  
  
• the parent of the young adult be a New Jersey resident

The Right to Make a DU31 Election will END and Coverage Resulting from a DU31 Election will TERMINATE when:

• A young adult marries or enters into a civil union
  
  
• A young adult becomes a parent
  
  
• A young adult residing outside of New Jersey is no longer a full-time student
  
  
• A young adult becomes covered under an individual health benefits plan, a group health plan or a church plan
  
  
• The young adult has his or her 31st birthday
  
  
• A young adult’s parent is no longer covered under the group health benefits plan (note: a young adult’s coverage does not terminate if a parent continues coverage pursuant to a COBRA or NJSGC election)
  
  
• A young adult’s parent elects to discontinue coverage for all eligible dependents (note: a young adult’s coverage does not terminate if a parent terminates dependent coverage because there are no longer any eligible dependents)
  
  
• The group health benefits plan no longer permits coverage of dependents
  
  
• The employer’s group health benefits plan terminates and is not replaced by a group health benefits plan subject to the DU31 law
  
  
• Required premiums are not paid

• For more information, please call,

  The NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits at 609-292-7524