Family Life

10.09.09 | FL News Team

A law involving college students and health insurance coverage goes into effect today. The measure known as "Michelle's Law" allows full-time college students to go on medical leave without losing health insurance coverage received as a dependent under their parents' health plan. Michelle's Law was passed last year. Prior to its passage, students between 19 and 24 years of age could only get coverage under their parent's health insurance policy, as a dependent, if they remained a full-time student.

Michelle's Law was named for Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student. She was diagnosed with cancer while a full-time student. She kept going to school full time while undergoing treatment to avoid losing health insurance coverage completely and because her family could not afford the premiums under COBRA. She later died. Her family raised the issue with their state's legislature, who passed a law protecting students from such situations in the future. In 2008, President Bush signed the measure into law.