Yes, your child can stay on your health insurance plan until they turn 26, regardless of whether they live at home, attend school, are financially dependent on you, or are married. This rule applies to all ACA-compliant plans.
The ACA's dependent coverage rule was designed specifically to close the coverage gap that used to leave young adults uninsured after finishing school or starting out in a first job. As long as you have an ACA Marketplace plan (or an employer-sponsored plan that complies with ACA rules), your adult child qualifies as a dependent until their 26th birthday.
A few things worth knowing as your child gets older:
- Coverage ends on your child's 26th birthday, not at the end of that plan year. After that, they have a 60-day Special Enrollment Period to get their own plan.
- If your child is offered affordable coverage through their own employer, they can choose to take it. But they are not required to leave your plan until age 26.
- If your child lives in a different state for school, check that your plan's network includes providers in their area. Some HMO plans have limited out-of-state coverage for non-emergency care.
- Adding a dependent to your plan may affect your premium, but it will not affect your eligibility for a premium tax credit.
Once your child turns 26, they'll need their own policy. We can help them look at their options well before that deadline so there's no gap in coverage.
Questions about your family's plan or adding a college student to your coverage? Call us at (305) 330-1277 or Find a plan that fits your family and we'll sort it out together.
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