It was supposed to be easier than this.
When the Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010, the goal was to help more Americans get health insurance. And indeed the establishment of online marketplaces and a broadening of the eligibility guidelines for Medicaid accomplished that.
Fifteen years later, however, that system is anything but user-friendly.
Young adults looking for health insurance will likely benefit from talking with so-called navigators who work for the online marketplaces. But if you want to go it alone, here are some tips about shopping for a plan, based on the advice of policy experts and people who have spent hundreds of hours helping others navigate this unwieldy setup.
Buckle up.
Start here
Begin your search at least two months before your 26th birthday. In some cases, you can sign up for a plan in advance so that it goes into effect on your birthday.
First, find out if your family plan ends on your birthday or at the end of your birthday month. A few states allow young adults to stay on their family plan until they are 29, with certain conditions and, generally, increased costs. A navigator will know more.
You may have the option to stay, for a limited time, on your family’s plan under COBRA, a federal program that allows those with group health plans to extend their coverage past 26. Odds that you will be approved for an extension are even higher if you can claim a disability.
Be aware, though, that this option will involve a considerable expense, since you will be required to pay the entire premium (the employer will no longer pay what is usually a substantial share). Those who claim a disability can often stay on the family plan after age 26, depending on the type of insurance the family holds.
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