If a plan covers children, they can be added to or kept on a parent's health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old.
Children can join or remain on a parent's plan even if they are:
- married
- not living with their parents
- attending school
- not financially dependent on their parents
- eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan
These rules apply to both job-based plans and individual plans you buy yourself, inside or outside the Marketplace.
How to get coverage for adult children
Adult children may be enrolled during a plan’s Open Enrollment period
or during other special enrollment opportunities. The employer or
insurance company can provide details.
When you apply for a new plan in the Marketplace, you can usually
sign up your under-26-year-olds on the same application. Be sure to
include them on the list of people to be covered.
Important: If your child under 26 is not your dependent for tax purposes, you’ll need help to fill out your application correctly. This is true only
if you or anyone who'll be part of the same application wants to
qualify for premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs based on
household size and income.