When Can My 25-year-old Son Be Covered Under Our Family Health Insurance Policy?

In 2010, the federal government enacted the Affordable Care Act, a health reform law that overhauls the American health care industry. One of the stipulations of the law requires health insurers to extend the age of dependency for children on a parent's health insurance policy. Previously, insurance industry practice was to discontinue coverage once a child turned 19 or graduated college. Now, you may maintain coverage on your adult child until age 26.

Open Enrollment

• The process for adding your adult child to your health insurance plan depends on your health insurer's policy for adding dependents. Many insurers offer a yearly open-enrollment period, at which time you can enroll eligible members of your family. However, if you are adding your child to your health insurance because of a qualifying event, such as a marriage that resulted in the addition of a step-child into your family, you need not wait until open enrollment, but instead can add your new adult step-child to your health insurance within 30 days following your marriage.

Premiums and Coverage

• According to healthcare.gov, your health insurer cannot discriminate against your adult dependent because of age. The premiums for adult dependents must equal those of minor dependents. Additionally, if you add your child to an employer's group health plan, your insurer must extend the same coverage protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act as are provided to other policy members. While your adult child's spouse and children do not qualify for health coverage under your health insurance policy, your health insurer must extend coverage to your child regardless of marital or financial status.

Exceptions

• Prior to January 2014, when the Affordable Care Act comes into full effect, some health insurers may be exempt from accepting your adult dependent for coverage under your health insurance policy. The law includes a grandfather clause that shelters health policies in effect prior to the passage of the act from mandatory coverage of adult dependents that have access to an employer's group insurance plan.

Extensions

• Once your child turns 26, he may no longer qualify for dependency status on your employer's health insurance plan, but may instead be able to continue coverage through your health insurance company as an individual policy holder through COBRA. While many people know that COBRA offers a continuation of health insurance benefits following a qualifying job loss, some policy holders are unaware that children who age off of an adult's health insurance policy can continue coverage for up to 36 months, though the rates may be considerably higher than they were as a dependent.