Design preview. Not public yet.

Money

Health insurance options

If you're under 26, you can usually stay on a parent's plan. Otherwise your main options are a plan through work, a Marketplace plan at HealthCare.gov (with savings based on income), a student plan, or Medicaid if your income is low.

Easy15 min to readFree to compare

You'll need

  • A rough idea of your yearly income
  • Any job offer that mentions benefits

What to know

  1. Under 26? If a parent's plan covers dependents, you can usually be added and stay on it until you turn 26, even if you're married or don't live with them (HealthCare.gov).
  2. Check your job. If your employer offers coverage, compare the plans during your enrollment window.
  3. Buying your own? Preview Marketplace plans and prices at HealthCare.gov without logging in. You may qualify for savings based on income (HealthCare.gov).
  4. Under 30? You can pick a Catastrophic plan: lower premiums, higher out-of-pocket costs, mainly for worst-case scenarios (HealthCare.gov).
  5. Low income? Fill out a Marketplace application any time of year to see if you qualify for Medicaid (HealthCare.gov).
Watch out. Outside Open Enrollment (November 1 to January 15), you can only enroll in or change a Marketplace plan if a life change, like moving or losing other coverage, gives you a Special Enrollment Period (HealthCare.gov).

If it doesn't work

  • If you miss Open Enrollment, check whether a recent move, marriage, new baby or loss of coverage qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period (HealthCare.gov).
  • If you're about to turn 26, start looking at your own coverage before your parent's plan ends.
  • If the Marketplace says you can't get savings, check whether someone claims you as a tax dependent. That affects eligibility (HealthCare.gov).

Good to know

Students

If you're in school, you may be able to enroll in a student health plan (HealthCare.gov).

Dependents and savings

If someone claims you as a tax dependent, you can buy a Marketplace plan but won't qualify for income-based savings (HealthCare.gov).

Learn the words first

Premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums decide what a plan really costs. See that lesson.

Sources

  1. HealthCare.gov How to get or stay on a parent's plan
  2. HealthCare.gov Getting covered if you're under 30
  3. HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Periods
  4. HealthCare.gov Catastrophic health plan

Lesson M8.2 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed. See a mistake?