When Does Parental Obligation End?
Posted: Friday, April 30, 2010
by Terry Mitchell
http://commenterry.blogs.com
The other day, a gentleman wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper, complaining about the new healthcare law. It seems that he cannot find anyone who will enforce the provision in this legislation that allows parents to keep their children on their health insurance policies until they turn 26.
Despite this new law, his insurance company is planning to drop his 22-year-old daughter from his policy, once she graduates from college next month. He has been unable to find anyone associated with the government or his employer who will tell the insurance company that they cannot drop her. Therefore, he was bemoaning the fact he will have to purchase a separate policy for her.
I don't know for sure, but I have little doubt that this gentleman and his wife paid for all or part their daughter's college expenses in addition to other support, such as a car and spending money. Many of us were not or are not so fortunate. Isn't 22 years of support through the end of college enough? Why should young, healthy college graduates expect their parents to continue providing them with stuff like health insurance?
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Hi Terry.You've asked some very good questions. When I married Bernd, I figured that ended any financial responsibility my mother might have had for me. I finished college a year after our marriage and got a job right away, thus ending my dependence on Bernd's income and taking some of the burden from him.But I can understand why in this day and economy why kids might depend on their parents a little longer. Not that it makes it right. I'm not sure there is a right or wrong to this issue. I think it is a matter of willingness and preference.But I will say that at some point, kids are going to have to cut the parental purse strings if not the apron strings. Parents do have a certain responsibility in that they chose to bring their kids into the world, but once that child is grown and able to care for itself, I think it needs to move on.I was certainly glad to do that and found satisfaction in caring for myself and learning to organize my own life around my own values. Bernd was also happy to move out of his parents house and get on with his life. Luckily, what we both wanted meshed very well.You really got me to thinking. I always think that is a good thing. Others might not, though. :)Respectfully,DianneDianne, thanks for reading and commenting. I'm always glad when one of my articles turns out to be thought-provoking. :-)
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