subject: California Health Care - Dependent Children [print this page] If your health insurance currently includes your children, you can keep them on your family policy until they reach age 26. This means you can make sure they have health insurance even if they no longer live with you, are married, or are no longer in school. Plus you don't have to claim them as a dependent on your tax return. You will not be able to include their spouse or their children on your policy.
Although this new provision does not become a requirement until September, many companies have agreed to voluntarily continue to insure new college graduates and their other young adults who would otherwise lose their coverage this year.
If you don't currently include your adult children on your health insurance policy, you will be able to add them to your policy, assuming your insurer provides dependent coverage. Your insurance company will be sending you a written notice about special enrollment opportunities. You will have thirty days to add any eligible adult children under the age of 26. Their new coverage may not begin until the start of your new insurance plan year.
Your insurance company will not be able to charge you more to insure or provide fewer benefits than it does for younger children. Insurance companies and employer plans are not required to offer dependent coverage. However, if you're in a plan that does not provide family coverage, you'll not be able to include your adult children. Also if they have access to employer based coverage, or coverage on their own, you will not be able to add them to your plan.
