Blue Cross announces new child only policy

On Friday, July 16, 2010, Blue Cross ad Blue Shield of Illinois filed a new policy called Blue Pathway to provide coverage for children age 1 through 18 when the child is the primary insured (commonly called “child-only” policy) with the Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI).


This new coverage option responds to an Interim Final Rule that was issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement several provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordability Act of 2010 (PPACA). In this Rule, HHS has determined that provisions limiting the application of pre-existing condition exclusions for children under 19 means that all children under 19 who apply for insurance for which they are eligible on or after Sept. 23, 2010, cannot be denied coverage—this is commonly known as “guaranteed issue.”


During the interim period while waiting for authorization to sell this new product, BCBSIL will temporarily suspend issuing new policies to children under 19 when the child is the primary insured. BCBSIL will stop quoting its current child-only policies on July 30, and the last assigned effective dates for those policies will be Sept. 15, 2010. Any application that has not been approved by Sept. 1, 2010, will be withdrawn from consideration. Once the DOI approves this new policy, BCBSIL will provide information on how to apply for the coverage. 


From what is gathered this product will not be marketed through a retail store front such as The Health Insurance Shoppe.  You will need to contact Blue Cross direct to inquire more on this information.


Feel free to call The Shoppe with questions.


-The Shoppe