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Understanding group insurance eligibility for older dependent children

News Release

Older dependent children remain eligible for group insurance subject to certain criteria, with which plan members are often unfamiliar.

While each contract is different, it is important for plan members to have a thorough understanding of the criteria that govern the eligibility of their older dependent children.

Here’s a summary of them:

Eligibility Until 20 years of age1 Between 21 and 26 years of age2
Criteria
  • Be covered by the public health insurance plan in their province of residence
  • Meet the definition of full time Canadian resident
  • Meet the definition of a dependent child under the group insurance contract
  • Have a mental or physical disability and be unable to earn a living because of said disability, provided it was declared when the insured was a child, subject to eligibility criteria
      OR
  • Be under 26 years of age and registered full time at a recognized educational institution
IMPORTANT
As a result, group insurance plan members are required to contact their plan administrator every year to confirm the full-time student status of their dependent child between 21 and 26 years of age2 (Confirmation of student status form) to maintain coverage.

A communication about the full-time student status of dependent children intended for plan members has been prepared. We invite you to share it with them.

Read the French version of this communication.


1 Certain group insurance contracts stipulate that full-time student status must be confirmed from age 18.
2 Since the eligibility criteria may vary in some contracts, note that plan members are invited to always consult their group insurance booklet to confirm the eligibility criteria that apply to their dependent children.