26 Years of Age

Q. What health insurance for young adults can I have until the age of 26?
A. If your parent’s health insurance covers young adults, then you can be added to or kept on their health insurance until you turn 26.

Q. What if I’m married or don’t live with my parents? Can I still get health insurance?
A. You can join or stay on a parent’s health insurance plan even if you:

• Are married
• Don’t live with your parents
• Are going to school
• Don’t count on your parents for money
• Can sign up for your employer’s plan

Q. What is covered on my parent’s health insurance plan?
A. Your parent’s health insurance plan will give you the benefits that are meant to cover basic health concerns. They are:

• Emergency care
• Prescription drugs
• Hospital stays
• Rehabilitative care and devices
• Maternity and newborn care
• Lab services
• Behavioral health/substance abuse
• Preventive/wellness services (like yearly check-ups and vaccinations) & chronic disease management

Also, most preventive care will be fully paid by your parent’s premium – like certain screenings to check for health problems such as high blood sugar or cancer. And, you won’t have a copay, coinsurance or deductibles for an annual wellness exam or immunizations.

Q. What happens when I turn 26 years old?
A. Once you turn 26, your coverage on your parent's health insurance plan will end.  You would need to enroll in health coverage on your own.

Q. How do I get coverage now that I’m turning 26 years old?
A. This is the time to explore your options! If your birthday is outside the open enrollment period, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This means you may be able to get coverage through your job or buy an individual plan through our health insurance  or the Health Insurance Marketplace .

Q. How soon do I need to apply before I’m turning 26 years old?
A. You can enroll up to 60 days before your 26th birthday. Your Special Enrollment Period ends 60 days after your birthday.

Q. What happens if I don’t enroll during my Special Enrollment Period after turning 26 years old?
A. If you don’t enroll in health coverage within the 60 days following your birthday, you may not be able to get coverage until the next Open Enrollment period.

Q. Why should I shop through BCBSNM or the Health Insurance Marketplace?
A. By using our site  or the Health Insurance Marketplace , you’ll be able to shop for, compare and buy health insurance. You might get lower costs on your monthly premiums and lower out- of-pocket costs just by doing a little research before buying.

If you’re at that “magic age”, DO something and get covered!