Employers with cafeteria plans can now allow employees to make pretax contributions to cover benefits under the company’s heath plan for dependent children up to age 27, the Internal Revenue Service said April 27 (Notice 2010-38). The change is related to the new health reform law, IRS said. The notice will appear in the May 17 edition of the Internal Revenue Bulletin 2010-20.
House Democrats, meanwhile, asked health insurers to stop canceling coverage for policyholders who become sick before a provision in the new law takes effect in 2014. The chairmen of three House committees urged seven insurers in a letter April 27 to stop the rescissions, a move that they said would be consistent with changes allowing older dependents to remain on a parent’s health plan. Separately, WellPoint said it would implement a nonrescission provision May 1.

