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Young Adult Coverage


By: healthcare.gov

If you’re under 30, you can get health coverage a few different ways, some designed specifically for you. With a range of plan types and costs to choose from, it’s not hard to find insurance that works for your life and your budget.

Getting or staying on a parent’s plan

Under 26? You may be able to get on a parent’s health insurance plan. Learn how to get or stay on a parent’s plan.

Buying your own insurance plan

You might be able to buy your own plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for savings based on your income. If you’re just starting your career and not making much money, you could get a very affordable plan – $75 or less per month, with good benefits.

You can pick a “Catastrophic” health plan – an affordable way to protect yourself from worst-case scenarios.

Applying can be easy and fast. If you’re single or have a pretty straightforward family situation, applying and finding out what savings you qualify for won’t take much time at all.

One catch: If someone claims you as a tax dependent, you can buy a plan through the Marketplace but won’t qualify for savings based on your income.

In school? Student plans

If you’re in school, you may be able to enroll in a student health plan — and meet the requirement for having coverage under the health care law.

Medicaid and CHIP

If your income is low or you have certain life circumstances, you could qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid.

If your state has expanded Medicaid coverage, you can qualify based on your income alone – in most states that have expanded, that’s about $16,500 for a single person, about $22,000 for a married couple with no children. Do a quick check here.

In all states, you can qualify based on a factors including income, some family situations like pregnancy and having young children, and disability.

If you have children, they might qualify for coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – even if you don’t qualify for Medicaid.

Learn more about Medicaid and CHIP and how to apply.

Get covered – or pay a fee

Under the health care law, you must have qualifying health coverage or pay a fee on your next federal tax return.

The penalty in 2016 is 2.5% of household income or $695 per adult (half of that per child), whichever is higher. Learn more about the fee for not being covered.