4 ways young adults can get covered this summer

Published on July 29, 2014

Young adults have several options for getting covered through the Health Insurance Marketplace®.

1. Apply during a Special Enrollment Period

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and not even know it. Did you recently get married, have a baby, adopt a child, or move? Did your student health plan just expire? If so, you may be able to get Marketplace coverage outside of Open Enrollment.

2. Apply for Medicaid and CHIP any time

You can enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year. If you qualify, you can enroll right away.

3. Get covered on a parent's plan

You may be able to get covered under a parent’s health insurance plan until you turn 26. This is true even if you're married, not living at home, or not financially dependent on your parents. If you turn 26 and age off of a parent's plan, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

4. Consider catastrophic health coverage

Protect yourself from the high costs of worst-case scenarios like accidents or serious illnesses. If you’re under 30, you can buy a catastrophic health plan that covers 3 primary care visits per year. Catastrophic plans cover these services and free preventive care before you meet your deductible.