Many parents in Delaware can purchase health coverage for their adult children up to age 24 under the parent's policy so long as the child is in college or lives in Delaware.

In the past, adult children generally were dropped from their parents' health coverage when they turned 18 unless they were full-time students. But under a new law advocated by the Insurance Commissioner's Office and passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 2007, health insurance companies must offer parents the chance to purchase continued coverage under their employer or family plan and do so at a fraction of what it would cost to purchase an individual policy for the young adult.

The requirement does not apply to all health insurance plans, as some are exempted from state regulation by federal law. However, parents interested in purchasing the continuing coverage should talk to their employer's human resources department about whether the additional coverage is available from their insurer. You can also check with Delaware Department of Insurance by calling 1-800-282-8611.

This initiative targets the age group with the highest uninsured rate in the state. Almost 23 percent of adults age 18 to 29 in Delaware are uninsured – double the percentage of any other age group.

The new law is based in part on “Michelle’s Law” in New Hampshire, which was inspired by a college student who died of cancer at age 22 and had been told she could not stay on her parents’ health insurance unless she remained a full-time student.