How to Add My Mother to My Health Insurance

The process of adding a parent to your health insurance can be like walking through a minefield if you are unfamiliar with the process. Insurance companies are very savvy at making sure they do not pay out if they do not have to, but taking a few careful precautions to be sure your mother is eligible for your plan can avert stress if a claim is later filed.

Instructions

• 1

  Check your health plan's benefit summary page to determine whether your employer allows you to add a parent to your plan. If you cannot locate the benefit summary page, contact the insurance company that provides your employee group coverage and request that they send one to you.

• 2

  Determine whether you can claim your mother as a dependent on your tax returns. If you can claim her as a dependent, you will be better able to argue with your employer in favor of allowing you to add her to your insurance plan. The IRS has strict guidelines about what qualifies a parent as a dependent, including income criteria and providing at least 50 percent of your mother's support during the filing year. If your company allows dependents to be covered under your insurance, and you are legally allowed to claim your mother as a dependent, you should not have a problem placing her on your family plan and adjusting your premium accordingly.

• 3

  Become your mother's conservator. A conservator is a legal guardian who is allowed to make decisions for a dependent's care. This option is usually reserved for parents unable to make decisions for themselves due to medical issues such as dementia. If you become your mother's legal guardian, your employer may allow you to cover her under your health insurance policy.

• 4

  Examine your policy carefully. Many policies have clearly defined provisions for dependent coverage. Verify that you and your mother meet the criteria. For example, the policy may state that your mother has to reside in your home. This is not a requirement to claim her as a tax deduction; however, an insurance company may stipulate it as a requirement for coverage. If this is the case, you will need to determine whether it is worth moving your mother in to get her covered. There may be additional provisions or requirements, so read the policy carefully.