Skip to main content

My spouse and I want to cover our 25-year-old son as a dependent on our policy. We have no other children. We don’t claim him as a dependent, he doesn’t live with us, and he has a job. We also have modest income and hope we can qualify for premium tax credits in the Marketplace. Do we have to count our son as a member of our household when we apply? Do we have to count his income when we apply?

Written by Hummingbird Insurance on . Posted in Frequently Asked Questions.

No. You and your spouse will be counted as a household of two and the income you and he report on your joint tax return will be counted for purposes of determining your eligibility. Your son will be counted separately as a household of one, and his income will be counted separately to determine his eligibility. After the Marketplace decides the amount of premium tax credit each of your “households” are eligible for, the three of you can apply for a family policy offered on the Marketplace and you can apply your combined premium tax credits to reduce what your family has to pay for that policy.

I’m covered under my parent’s policy but I’m moving to another state. Can I remain covered as a dependent?

Written by Hummingbird Insurance on . Posted in Frequently Asked Questions.

Yes, you are eligible to be covered as a dependent up to age 26 regardless of where you actually live. However, your parent’s health plan probably has a network of participating providers and it may be difficult for you to find in-network care when you are living in another state. If you find that your parent’s plan doesn’t cover health providers in the state where you live, you can also explore the option of signing up for coverage on your own. Moving will qualify you for a special enrollment opportunity to enroll in other coverage. You might not be able to sign up for new coverage until after you have moved; Marketplaces are no longer required to make the permanent move special enrollment period available to you in advance of your move.  Check the Marketplace web site in your state for more information about permanent move special enrollment period, qualified health plan options and your eligibility for premium tax credits.

I’m 24 and I used to be covered as a dependent on my parent’s policy. I dropped off last year when I found other coverage, but now I’ve lost that other coverage and want to get back on my parent’s policy. Can I do that?

Written by Hummingbird Insurance on . Posted in Frequently Asked Questions.

Yes. You are still eligible to be covered as a dependent. Your parent’s plan must offer you a special opportunity to re-enroll because you lost other coverage. That special enrollment opportunity must last at least 30 days from the date you lost other coverage.