Which act requires that all group health plans provide coverage for dependent children up to age 26?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandates that all group health plans must provide dependent coverage for children up to the age of 26. This provision was designed to help young adults maintain health insurance coverage during a critical period when they might be entering the workforce or pursuing education, often without employer-sponsored insurance.

This age limit applies regardless of whether the child is financially dependent on the parent, living with the parent, or enrolled in school, allowing a broader spectrum of young adults access to health coverage. The intent behind this requirement is to lower the number of uninsured young adults and ensure they continue to receive necessary healthcare services during a transitional phase in their lives.

The other pieces of legislation mentioned each have different focuses or provisions and do not specifically address the age limit for dependent coverage the way the PPACA does. For instance, HIPAA primarily deals with portability and privacy protections in health insurance, the Medicare and Medicaid Improvement Act targets enhancements in services for the elderly and those on Medicaid, and CHIP is focused on providing health insurance coverage to uninsured low-income children, rather than extending dependent coverage through existing group health plans.