As college and high school seniors graduate from schools across the state this spring, lawmakers are reminding them to take advantage of a new law that will allow many to stay on their parents' health insurance plan until they turn 25.

 The new law, which passed in the General Assembly last year and went into effect on Jan. 1, allows dependents to stay on their family's health insurance plans up to the age of 25 - regardless of whether or not they are full-time students. Qualifying dependents cannot be married; they must live at home with the plan holder for at least half of the year, and receive at least fifty percent of their support from the plan holder.

Speaking at the Laurel High School commencement rehearsal on Friday, state Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-District 21) told students the "new law will help many high school and college graduates when they graduate."

"We need universal health care, but the state has acted to increase the numbers of Marylanders with access to medical insurance," Rosapepe said

Rosapepe distributed a flyer to students explaining the Health Insurance - Family Coverage Expansion Act, and encouraged them to discuss the matter with their parents.

The expanded effort to promote the new legislation comes at a time when many seniors are graduating from college. Several schools, including Johns Hopkins University, Towson University, and the University of Maryland, College Park held commencement exercises late last week.

Thousands of students will now have access to insurance, whereas in the past many would have lost coverage when they concluded their studies.

Graduating college seniors have been among the highest group in the country to lack health insurance, according to several studies, particularly those who attend graduate school.

In Maryland, an estimated 100,000 of the state's 700,000 uninsured residents are between the ages of 21 and 25.