The short version
- You can stay on a parent's plan until you turn 26, even if you're married, working or living on your own.
- Aging off the plan opens a Special Enrollment Period, usually from 60 days before your coverage ends to 60 days after.
- Your main options are a plan through your job, a Marketplace plan, COBRA, or Medicaid if you qualify.
When does the coverage actually end?
Under the Affordable Care Act, a plan that covers children has to let them stay on until age 26. It doesn't matter whether you're married, in school, living at home or financially independent.
What happens around your birthday depends on the plan. Many end coverage at the end of the month you turn 26; some employer plans keep you on until the end of that plan year. Ask your parent to check with their HR department or the insurer, so you know the exact date you're working towards.
Your options
A plan through your job
If your employer offers health insurance, this is often the simplest route. Losing a parent's coverage usually lets you join outside the normal enrollment period, but employers set short deadlines, often 30 days, so ask HR as soon as you know your end date.
A Marketplace plan
If you don't have job-based coverage, or it's expensive, you can buy an individual plan. Losing coverage at 26 qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period: you can usually choose a plan up to 60 days before your parent's coverage ends and up to 60 days after.
Depending on your income, you may qualify for a premium tax credit that lowers your monthly cost.
COBRA
Aging off a parent's employer plan is a COBRA qualifying event, which lets you keep the same coverage for up to 36 months. The catch is cost: you pay the full premium, including the part the employer used to pay, plus up to a 2% administrative fee.
It can make sense if you're in the middle of treatment and want to keep the same doctors and deductible, but it's rarely the cheapest option.
Medicaid
Depending on your income and your state, you may qualify for Medicaid. Eligibility rules vary a great deal from state to state, and you can apply at any time of year.
Timing tip
Start looking a month or two before your birthday. Choosing a plan before your old coverage ends is the surest way to avoid a gap, even a gap of a few weeks.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Are my doctors in the plan's network?
- Are my regular prescriptions on its drug list, and what will they cost?
- What's the deductible, and what would I pay in a bad year, not just a good one?
- Do I qualify for help with the premium?
How deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket maximums fit together
How I can help
Tell me your birthday month, your state and roughly what you expect to earn this year. I'll lay out your options side by side, including whether COBRA or a Marketplace plan works out cheaper for you.
See the states where I'm licensed
This article is general information, not advice about your own situation. Rules, plans and prices vary by state and by employer, and can change from year to year.
