© 2021 Blue Cross Blue Shield Association - All Rights Reserved. Our plans also offer access to discounts on massage therapy, over-the-counter vitamins, oral health care products, acupuncture and weight-loss programs and products. Covered by a parentâs plan and about to turn 26? Under the Affordable Care Act, young adults can choose to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until they turn 26 — no ifs, ands or buts. If a parentâs health insurance plan covers dependents, you usually can be added to their plan and stay on it until you turn 26. (Of course, you and your parents will have to sort out who pays the premium.) Not be insured by or eligible for comprehensive (i.e., medical and hospital) health insurance through his or her own employer; and; Live, work or reside in New York State or the health insurance company’s service area. A federal government website managed and paid for by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Whether you're a student or out of school, you're on your own and making choices for yourself. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows young adults under age 26 to remain on a parent’s health insurance policy even if the child is: Not living with their parents; Attending school; Not financially dependent on the parents; Married; Working and eligible to enroll in an employer’s health plan See if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Work part-time? There are 36 independent and locally-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the U.S. ready to help you understand your options for health insurance covered. Play contact sports? Subscribe to get email (or text) updates with important deadline reminders, useful tips, and other information about your health insurance. But it may mean you’re agreeing to pay a higher share of any health care costs that arise during the year. Even if you have access to a student health plan, you can apply for coverage (or stay covered) through the Health Insurance Marketplace® instead. Learn more about how someone can get covered when they turn 26 years old. Under the Affordable Care Act, young adults can choose to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until they turn 26 — no ifs, ands or buts. Are claimed as a dependent on your parents’ taxes, Are eligible to enroll in your employer’s health plan. But it wasn’t long ago that I knew next to nothing about health insurance. It’s worth noting, too, that catastrophic plans aren’t eligible for financial help through the Healthcare Marketplace, so an eligible silver-level plan could end up being a better option, with more robust coverage for an equal or lower cost. You can find contact information for the BCBS company in your area here. Sorry, that mobile phone number is invalid. If you graduate from college and move to a different state, you can still have access to your parent’s health insurance (depending on how the plan works). 2021 Open Enrollment is over, but you may still be able to enroll in 2021 health insurance through a Special Enrollment Period. Plus, you’ll be saving your parents some money — an angle you can easily cash in for brownie points. Don’t forget to see if you’re eligible for financial help to pay for coverage. For me, it was a pretty easy decision; I work for a health insurance company that offers affordable coverage. People still covered under their parents’ health insurance will be kicked off once they reach 26 years old. At 16 or 17, you can get your driver’s license. Once you turn 26, you qualify for a special enrollment period and have the option to enroll in a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Editor’s Note: This article appears on the Highmark Blog. Here are some different ways to get health coverage. If you’re under 30, you can get health coverage a few different ways, some designed specifically for you. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies. After age 26 health insurance becomes your responsibility. Now that youâre signed up, weâll send you deadline reminders, plus tips about how to get enrolled, stay enrolled, and get the most from your health insurance. A low monthly premium may look appealing. You’ve Got Health Insurance Options, Option 2: Enroll in a Student Health Insurance Plan. Self-employed? Find out if your school offers health insurance options by poking around its website or calling the financial aid office. Then I graduated college. For a Covered California health plan, as long as students are a tax dependent of their parent(s) or under the age of 26, their eligibility for student health coverage does not make them ineligible to be covered on their parent’s family health plan. Starting a business? You need to provide either your email address or mobile phone number. You may also qualify for a special enrollment period as a result of certain life events, like turning 26, getting married, having a child, moving or graduating from college and losing your student health insurance coverage. Always think about your total health care costs rather than just the premium. Option 1: Stay on Your Parents’ Health Insurance Plan. Though catastrophic plans can have lower-cost monthly premiums than other plans, their deductibles are often significantly higher. The penalty for not having coverage in 2018 & earlier, Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit, Insurance for multiple locations & businesses, Additional resources for agents & brokers, Exploring coverage options for businesses, Learn more about individual coverage HRAs, How to get covered if you're a sole proprietor. Q2:What plans are required to extend dependent child coverage up to age 26? Catastrophic plans do cover three visits to a primary care physician per year before you meet your deductible, as well as certain preventive services with no cost sharing, so you don’t have to worry about paying for those. Turning 26: Health insurance tips for when you lose coverage under your parents' plan By Les Masterson | Updated on November 2, 2020 The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance until the child turns 26. The good news is: so do you. For what it’s worth, though you may have to pay a little more monthly than you have before, it feels really good to be paying for your own health care coverage. ... 2 min read Sep 26, 2018. Option 6: Look into a Catastrophic Health Insurance Plan. Do you smoke? In any case, always keep in mind that what kind of coverage you get is your decision. If you're a dependent under 26. Option 1: Stay on Your Parents’ Health Insurance Plan. Option 4: Choose a Plan from your Local BCBS company or on the Insurance Marketplace. Are you managing a chronic condition? You don’t have to wait until you’re 26 to enroll in one of the health insurance plans offered by your employer. Find out if you’re eligible here. Once youâre on a parentâs job-based plan, in most cases you can stay on it until you turn 26. This rule applies to all plans in the individual market and to new employer plans. I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s true. The Affordable Care … Your parent can add you during Open Enrollment (or during a Special Enrollment Period, if they qualify). Health insurance options for college students. There are a few options to find a plan: Stay on a Parent’s Plan: Students under 26 have the option to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan. In the past, health care plans could remove young adults from their parents' policies because of their age, and/or if they were a full-time student. I took the hint; it was time to make my own health insurance choices. How it impacts you The health plan must provide a 30-day period - no later than the first day of the plan's next plan year or policy year - … At 21, you can buy alcohol. I moved to Pittsburgh, got a job, and my parents started asking about my company’s benefits plan. Depending on where you live and what you can afford, the coverage your employer offers may suit your situation better than your parents’ insurance plan. Fortunately, since the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), young adults now have more health insurance options than before. If you have questions, a representative at your local BCBS company will be able to help. Under 26? The Affordable Care Act allows coverage for your dependent up to age 26, whether or not they are married. Any of these could increase your risk of needing medical care that a catastrophic plan wouldn’t cover until you’ve paid your deductible. Academic Care by Groupe Mutuel is a student insurance package for international students at very cheap rates. Depending on your annual income and other criteria, you could be eligible for Medicaid coverage through your state’s Medicaid program. With Aetna Student Health SM you can access a national network of doctors, hospitals and specialists. If you’re attending a college or university, you may be able to enroll in that school’s student health plan. When you’re choosing your own plan, be sure to consider all of your options. And at 26, you need to get your own health insurance?. They can add you to an existing Marketplace plan only during the yearly. Here they are, in no particular order. Medicaid is the state and federal program that helps to cover medical costs for Americans living with limited income or resources. 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