The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday voted 40-0 to approve a bill (HR 2851) that would allow college students who take medical leave to continue to receive health insurance under the policies of their parents, CQ Today reports. Before approval of the bill, the committee passed an amendment to clarify that the legislation also applies to college students who switch from full-time to part-time status because of serious illnesses or injuries (Nylen/Wayne, CQ Today, 7/16).

The bill would allow eligible college students to continue to receive health insurance under the policies of their parents for one year (Gruenwald, CongressDaily, 7/17). Currently, federal law allows children to receive health insurance under the policies of their parents until age 25, provided that are full-time college students (CQ Today, 7/16).