Many young adults lose coverage on a parent’s health plan around age 26. Options people commonly look at include a plan through their own employer, a marketplace plan through HealthCare.gov or their state’s marketplace, and other programs they may qualify for. Losing coverage can open a special enrollment window, so check dates early and verify details with the plan.
This page is general education, not insurance, legal or financial advice. Rules, dates and options vary by plan and state, so verify everything with the plan itself or HealthCare.gov.
Find out exactly when your coverage ends
Do not assume coverage ends on your birthday. Plans handle this differently; some end it on the birthday itself and others at a later point, such as the end of that month. Steps:
- Ask your parent to check the plan documents or call the plan or their HR department.
- Write down the exact last day of coverage.
- Put a reminder on your calendar a few months before that date.
- Ask whether any continuation option is available after coverage ends, and what it would involve.
Options people commonly look at
A plan through your employer
If you work for an employer that offers health insurance, losing other coverage is often a reason you can enroll outside the normal enrollment period. Ask HR how it works, what the deadline is and what plan options are available.
A marketplace plan
The health insurance marketplace lets you compare plans. Depending on income and household, some people qualify for help with costs. Start at HealthCare.gov, which points you to your state’s marketplace if it runs its own.
Other programs
Depending on income and state, some people qualify for public programs. Students may have a school-sponsored plan. Some parent plans offer a continuation option for a limited time. Each has its own rules, so check directly.
Understand special enrollment
Normally you can only sign up for marketplace or employer coverage during a yearly open enrollment period. Losing coverage, including aging off a parent’s plan, can trigger a special enrollment period that gives you a limited window to sign up. The window has a deadline, and missing it can leave you without coverage for a while. Check the timing for your situation with the plan or HealthCare.gov as soon as you know your end date.
Terms worth learning
- Premium: what you pay regularly to keep the plan.
- Deductible: what you pay for covered care before the plan starts paying more.
- Copay and coinsurance: your share of the cost of a visit or service.
- Out-of-pocket maximum: the most you would pay for covered care in a plan year.
- Network: the doctors and facilities the plan works with.
When comparing plans, look at the whole picture, not just the premium, and check that doctors you use and medications you take are covered.
Make it part of your adult checklist
Health insurance is one of those tasks that is easy to put off until something goes wrong. Treat it like rent: a date on the calendar and a plan. Keep your plan information and member card somewhere easy to find. Our guides on adulting skills, budgeting for young adults and your first job after college cover other parts of setting up on your own.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor does not give insurance advice or choose a plan for you. What a mentor can do is help you make the list of questions, set deadlines, follow through on the calls and keep track of paperwork, so important tasks get done on time. See money and life skills and young adult mentoring.
Related
- Adulting skills every young adult needs
- How to save money in your 20s
- First apartment checklist
- How to move out of your parents’ house
Common questions
Do I lose my parent’s health insurance exactly on my 26th birthday?
Not necessarily. Plans differ on when coverage ends, so check the exact date with the plan or your parent’s HR department.
Can I get insurance outside open enrollment after aging off a parent’s plan?
Losing coverage can qualify you for a special enrollment period with a limited window. Verify your timing with the plan or HealthCare.gov.
Where do I compare marketplace plans?
Start at HealthCare.gov, which also points you to your state’s marketplace if your state runs its own.
Can a mentor help me choose a health plan?
No. A mentor can help you organize questions, deadlines and calls, but plan choices should be checked with the plan, HealthCare.gov or a qualified professional.
Get started
Want help getting the adult paperwork and deadlines under control? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.