Stay on Your Parents’ Health Plan Until You’re 26

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) gives you the option to stay on your parents’ health insurance plan until you turn 26, even if you’re not a student or living at home. This is a great way to save money on health insurance, and it also ensures that you have comprehensive coverage.

How the Birthday Rule Works

If you’re enrolled in two or more health insurance plans, the “birthday rule” will determine which plan is your primary insurer. The plan with the earliest birthday in the calendar year is the primary insurer, and the other plan is the secondary insurer.

For example, if your dad’s birthday is January 1st and your mom’s birthday is July 1st, your dad’s plan would be the primary insurer. This means that your dad’s plan would pay for the majority of your medical expenses, and your mom’s plan would only pay for expenses that weren’t covered by your dad’s plan.

Choosing the Right Plan

When choosing between your parents’ health insurance plans, there are a few things you should consider:

Coverage: Make sure that both plans cover the same essential health benefits. These benefits include things like doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs.
Cost: Compare the monthly premiums and deductibles of each plan. You’ll also want to consider the out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments and coinsurance.
Network: Make sure that both plans have a network of doctors and hospitals that you’re comfortable with.

How to Stay on Your Parents’ Plan

To stay on your parents’ health insurance plan, you’ll need to:

1. Be under the age of 26.
2. Not be married.
3. Not be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.

If you meet these requirements, you can simply ask your parents to add you to their plan. They will need to provide you with the following information:

Their health insurance policy number
Their group number
Your Social Security number
Your date of birth

Once you have this information, you can call your parents’ health insurance company and ask to be added to their plan.

If You’re Not Eligible to Stay on Your Parents’ Plan

If you’re not eligible to stay on your parents’ health insurance plan, you’ll need to purchase your own health insurance. You can do this through the Health Insurance Marketplace or through a private insurance company.

The Health Insurance Marketplace is a government-run website where you can compare health insurance plans and purchase coverage. You may be eligible for a subsidy to help you pay for your health insurance.

If you purchase health insurance through a private insurance company, you’ll need to compare plans and prices on your own. You can also ask your employer if they offer health insurance benefits.

Conclusion

Staying on your parents’ health insurance plan until you’re 26 is a great way to save money and ensure that you have comprehensive coverage. If you’re not eligible to stay on your parents’ plan, you’ll need to purchase your own health insurance. You can do this through the Health Insurance Marketplace or through a private insurance company.