Turning 26 and getting your first health plan

If you have coverage in your own name when you turn 26, it won’t be affected. But if you’re covered under a parent’s plan, you may lose that coverage — either at the end of your birth month or the end of the calendar year. Please refer to your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) or check with your parent’s employer. Now is the time to explore your options for a Kaiser Permanente plan of your own.

Your parents can discontinue your coverage under their plan at any time.

You have a variety of ways to stay covered, including:

• A Kaiser Permanente individual or family plan
  • You can buy an individual or family plan directly through Kaiser Permanente or your state’s health benefit exchange. 
  • Financial assistance may be available. To see if you qualify, visit buykp.org.
• Medicaid and other federal and state health coverage programs. Visit the Kaiser Permanente Medicaid website to see if Kaiser Permanente offers a Medicaid plan in your area.
• COBRA continuation coverage, which can continue your employer-sponsored coverage through your ex-spouse or partner’s plan for a limited time.
• Coverage through your employer. Contact your employer’s health benefits administrator to find out if you have coverage options.

COBRA is a continuation of employer-sponsored coverage that you pay for monthly. It’s generally available to employees who lose job-related coverage, but only for a limited time, usually 18 months.

Visit the COBRA continuation of coverage webpage to learn more. You can also contact your parent's employer to see what COBRA options from Kaiser Permanente you may have.

Depending on the coverage option you choose, that date can vary:

• If you buy a Kaiser Permanente individual or family plan through Kaiser Permanente or the health benefit exchange, coverage may start the first day of the month after you lose your coverage.
• If you elect COBRA coverage, your employer-sponsored coverage will continue without a break.
• If you apply for Medicaid and are eligible for coverage, coverage may start either on the date you apply for Medicaid or the first day of the month you apply, depending on your state’s Medicaid rules.

Depending on your family size and income level, you may qualify for financial assistance. Financial assistance through Kaiser Permanente’s Medical Financial Assistance and Charitable Health Coverage programs is available in some areas, and government-funded programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can help you stay covered.

• Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s Medical Financial Assistance and Charitable Health Coverage programs.
  
• Check healthcare.gov or your state’s health benefit exchange to see if you qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or other government-funded programs.

If you’ve had a qualifying life change — such as turning 26 — you can apply for coverage for a limited time. This is called a special enrollment period.

• If you’re applying for an individual plan, your special enrollment period typically lasts 60 days from your 26th birthday. In some cases, the special enrollment period extends from 60 days before to 60 days after your birthday.
• If you’re applying for coverage through your employer, your special enrollment period lasts at least 30 days from the date of your life change. The length of time and available coverage options vary by employer.
• If you opt for COBRA coverage, you can sign up within 60 days of the date you lose coverage or the date you get your COBRA election notice — whichever is later. For state COBRA coverage, sign up by the date specified in your COBRA election notice. Check your election notice to confirm your deadline.
• If you qualify for Medicaid, you can apply anytime — with no time restrictions.

You’ll want to act quickly: If you don’t apply by your deadline, you’ll usually need to wait until the following year’s open enrollment period to apply for new coverage.