How Long Can You Stay on Your Parents’ Insurance at 26?

In most cases, you can stay on a parent’s health insurance until you turn 26, but the exact date your coverage ends depends on the plan. For a parent’s job-based plan, coverage may end on your birthday or at the end of that month, so ask the plan administrator for your last day of coverage.

If you’re covered as a dependent on a parent’s Marketplace plan, you generally can stay covered through December 31 of the year you turn 26. Some state rules or plan provisions may allow you to stay covered longer, so confirm the terms that apply to you.

No, turning 25 does not normally end your eligibility for coverage under a parent’s plan. You can generally remain covered until age 26 even if you’re married, live separately, are no longer a student, or have an offer of coverage through your own employer.

Eligibility to remain on the plan is different from the plan’s enrollment rules and costs, so ask your parent or the plan administrator about any changes that could affect your coverage. If you have a spouse or child, your parent’s plan is not generally required to cover them.

Start by finding out your coverage end date and comparing your options, including a plan through your employer, a Health Insurance Marketplace plan, or Medicaid if you qualify. Losing dependent coverage generally gives you a special enrollment opportunity, but deadlines differ: Marketplace enrollment is generally available from 60 days before to 60 days after the loss, while an employer plan generally requires you to request enrollment within 30 days after losing coverage.

Apply before your current coverage ends when possible, and confirm the effective date of your new plan before assuming you’re covered. Don’t voluntarily drop your existing coverage without first checking your options, because voluntarily ending coverage does not necessarily qualify you for a special enrollment period.

Your aging off a parent’s plan and enrolling a baby are separate coverage decisions, so review each person’s eligibility and enrollment deadlines. Birth generally creates a special enrollment opportunity, but you should notify the relevant plan promptly and confirm when the baby’s coverage begins.

For a broader introduction, read our baby health insurance and newborn enrollment checklist. We also offer Baby Health Insurance Made Simple, a printable PDF guide for new parents who want to learn about managing a baby’s health insurance.