Are you an over-age dependant student?  Don’t miss out on ongoing group coverage! 

August 1, 2015

Back to school—it’s almost that time of year again, which means it’s also time to confirm the status of over-age dependant students.  Although the specifics differ by insurer and by plan, generally, dependant children over the age of 21 may be eligible for continued group benefits coverage if they are:

A full-time student; and

Over the age of 21 but under the age of 25 (26 in Quebec)

Dependent on the plan member for maintenance and support (not working full-time). 

If coverage for over-age dependants is available on your plan, it may not be automatic.  Insurers typically terminate coverage for over-age dependant children by the end of August each year unless they receive proof or confirmation of qualifying student status for the upcoming school year. 

To ensure this coverage continues, if the over-age dependant student coverage is available on your plan, it is recommended that you review and implement your administrative practices for this confirmation process to avoid any surprises in September.