Graduating? You have health insurance options

Published on May 19, 2016

Congrats, graduates! Whether you’re heading into the working world or planning your next move, you have options for affordable health insurance that works for your life and your budget.

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Under 30? Just answer a few quick questions to get a personalized guide that’ll help you make a good coverage decision.

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3 health insurance options

You may get insurance from your job, but if you don’t, you still have options for health coverage:

• Under 26? Stay or get covered on a parent’s health insurance plan

  • You may be able to get added to or stay covered under a parent’s health insurance plan until you turn 26 — even if you’re married, not living at home, financially independent, or have an offer of insurance through a job.

• Buy your own health insurance plan

  • You may be able to buy your own plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace®. If you’re just starting out and not making much money, you’ll probably qualify for savings — which may make your monthly health insurance bill less than your cell phone bill.
  • You also can choose a "Catastrophic" health plan — an affordable way to protect yourself from worst-case scenarios.
  • Outside the yearly
    Open Enrollment Period

    The yearly period in the fall when people can enroll in a health insurance plan for the next calendar year. Open Enrollment for 2022 is over, but you may still be able to enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan for 2022 if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

    , you can enroll only if you have a life change that qualifies you for a
    Special Enrollment Period

    A time outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve had certain life events, including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child, or if your household income is below a certain amount.

    . Turning 26 and dropping off a parent’s insurance plan, losing health insurance for any other reason, getting married, or having a baby are just a few changes that let you enroll in the off-season.
  • See if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

• Get coverage through Medicaid or CHIP

  • In some states, Medicaid covers all adults below a certain income level. If you qualify, you can enroll any time. See if this applies to your income and your state.
  • In all states, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide health coverage for some individuals, families and children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

Important: If you don’t have any health coverage you may have to pay a penalty. There’s no special exception for age or student status.