Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt to ensure newborns are covered under their parents insurance during the first few critical months of life was approved by an Assembly panel on Monday.
The bill (A-2682) would extend the time period in which newborn children are covered under their parent’s health benefits coverage from the current 30 days to 90 days.
“With all that’s going on when a child is first born, the 30-day deadline can be problematic for some parents to meet and may cause unnecessary stress,” said Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington). “This bill will provide a longer period of time for children to be covered under their parents’ health coverage in order to ensure that children have access to adequate health care during the critical first few months of life.”
Current law limits the coverage of newly born children to 30 days from their birth. At the conclusion of 30 days, the child would be without coverage, unless parents enroll the child in a private health benefits coverage policy or in a state or federal program, such as FamilyCare.
Lampitt’s bill was approved by the Assembly Women and Children Committee, which she chairs.