How Long Can I Stay On My Parent's Health Insurance?

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare), individuals can stay on their parent's health insurance plan until they turn 26 years old. This includes individuals who:

• Are married.
• Go away for school.
• They are no longer claimed as a tax dependent.
• Have adopted a child.
• Decline an employer-sponsored health insurance plan.

If you do not meet the requirements listed above and are interested in accessing affordable healthcare, Mira is here to help. With coverage for doctor's visits, lab work (STD, COVID-19, and blood tests), as well as prescriptions with affordable copays, signing up for Mira allows you to spend 2x less on healthcare — even with insurance. 

When to Choose Another Health Insurance Policy After Turning 26

Depending on your parent's health insurance, you will either have to enroll in a new policy by the end of the month or by the end of the year of turning 26. If your parents have a marketplace health insurance policy, then you will be allowed until the end of the year to enroll in a policy even if you turn 26 midyear. This would require you to submit your own marketplace health insurance application and be aware of the open enrollment dates in your state.

If you were previously covered by your parent's employer policy, you would have until the end of the month you turn 26 years old to choose a new health insurance plan. Losing your parent's employer-sponsored health insurance coverage will open a special enrollment period (SEP). 

SEP allows you to buy your own health insurance outside of the open enrollment period. You should be aware that your SEP begins 60 days before and continues 60 days after you lose coverage. During this time, you are allowed special access to your state health insurance marketplace and can decide what coverage you would like to purchase.