This article will explore the following health insurance options for young adults, including 20-somethings, recent college grads, students, those entering the workforce and others:
When you’re young and starting out, health insurance may be low on your list of priorities. And, when you do think about it, you probably have concerns around choosing the right coverage, understanding how health insurance works, and finding a plan with an affordable premium.
Some of the most common inpatient young adult hospitalizations since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect are for pregnancy, treatment for mental illness, or experiencing an injury or poisoning that requires medical care. [0] Should care/treatment be needed, are you prepared for the related medical bills?
Fortunately, it should be easy to find an insurance plan. Under the ACA, young adults have many healthcare coverage options. That’s especially good news since young adults are often in a time of transition from student life to working life, in search of affordable health insurance, and on a tight budget.
Keep reading for an overview of health insurance options for young adults, including students, non-students, those under age 26 and those older than age 26.
Need coverage quickly? If approved, you can obtain short term health insurance benefits as soon as the next day after applying. These temporary plans last 30 to 364 days, with duration limits varying by state, and are designed to provide “catastrophic” coverage for a wide range of unexpected healthcare services. Benefits often include hospital room and board, ambulance services, surgery, emergency room treatment, and intensive care, to name a few.
Compare costs and coverage by requesting a quote (it just takes a minute).
Whether you’re a recent grad, younger than 26 or older than 26, consider temporary coverage when you:
Short term health insurance for young adults
| Short Term Medical | |
| Sample Rate (monthly premium) | $41.08 [1] |
| Year-Round Enrollment | |
| Next-Day Coverage Available | |
| Guaranteed Issue | |
| Provider Choice | |
| Subsidy Eligible |
Short term plans:
While ACA plans can only vary premiums based on geography, age, tobacco use and number of people covered (single vs. family plan), short term plans can vary rates due to any number of factors, including health conditions.
Short term health insurance can provide temporary and limited benefits for a lower premium if you qualify. STM is not a replacement for comprehensive major medical coverage.
The ACA allows adult children to remain on a parent’s health insurance plan until they turn 26 years old. This applies whether the parent’s health insurance is obtained through an employer, HealthCare.gov, a state-based exchange, or the private health insurance market.
When is a parent’s health insurance plan the best option for young adults + students?
A parent’s health insurance plan can be advantageous if you are already enrolled in it and need access to comprehensive, affordable, ACA-compliant benefits.
You can remain on a parent’s plan to age 26, even if you are:
Staying on your parent’s health insurance
Open or special enrollment only
Just because you can stay on your parent’s health insurance plan doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you. You’ll want to consider the following:
Individual ACA plans (commonly referred to as “Obamacare”) may cost a little more than temporary health insurance, but they provide the most comprehensive benefits.
If you don’t have access to a parent’s plan or job-based coverage and want guaranteed-issue benefits that include no-cost preventive care services and healthcare services in the 10 essential health benefits, then major medical insurance is your solution.
If you qualify for an Obamacare premium tax credit you may want to enroll in major medical insurance through HealthCare.gov or a state-based exchange. Major medical insurance is also available in the private market from a health insurance company or agent; however, these plans are not subsidy-eligible.
Keep in mind, ACA plans are only available at certain times throughout the year. So if it is not the open enrollment period and you don’t qualify for special enrollment, you may want temporary health insurance until you’re able to access major medical coverage.
Health insurance on or away from an ACA exchange
| ACA Plan | |
| Sample Rate (monthly premium) | $260.18 [2] (unsubsidized bronze plan) |
Open or special enrollment only
Only if purchased through HealthCare.gov or a state-based exchange; catastrophic plans excluded
You may have multiple major medical options.
You could be eligible for a premium subsidy based on your household size and income. See if you could qualify for an ACA subsidy.
Are you under 30 years old? You may qualify for a catastrophic health insurance plan—availability varies by state and region, and Obamacare subsidies do not apply to catastrophic plans.
Once you land a full-time job, you may find an employer that offers ACA-compliant group health insurance benefits that are guaranteed issue, which means you cannot be denied coverage.
When you are employed full-time, and have access to health insurance through your workplace, this is often a desirable route since employers may cover a portion or all of your premium costs. You may be subject to a waiting period before your benefits begin.
Signing up for employer benefits
initial hire period or employee open enrollment
If you are younger than age 26, you may opt to stay on your parent’s health insurance plan.
Also, those who are 26 and older who have access to affordable employer-sponsored health insurance will not qualify for savings offered through exchange-based plans.
According to HealthCare.gov, “A job-based health plan is considered ‘affordable’ if your share of the monthly premiums for the lowest cost self-only coverage that meets the minimum value standard is less than 9.56% of your household income.” [4] If, by these measures, workplace health insurance coverage is not affordable, young adults and others may be able to shop the Health Insurance Marketplace and qualify for subsidies based on income.
Medicaid provides low-cost or free health insurance to individuals who qualify. Each state runs its own program, and eligibility criteria varies by state.
If you meet Medicaid eligibility criteria, then Medicaid is likely your best option.
Enrolling in coverage through Medicaid
| Medicaid | |
| Sample Rate (monthly premium) | Dependent on circumstances |
| Year-Round Enrollment | |
| Next-Day Coverage Available | |
| Guaranteed Issue | Eligibility criteria apply |
| Subsidy Eligible | No- or low-cost dependent on eligibility |
Under the ACA, some states expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults younger than age 65 who earn up to 133% of the federal poverty level. For a single-person household in 2018, that is $12,140. [5]
Some colleges and universities still offer major medical health insurance plans to their students. These student health plans are typically considered qualifying health coverage that fulfills the ACA’s individual mandate–of course, you’ll want to check with your school’s plan to confirm. [6]
There is no one, best health insurance option that suits all young adults. Each individual’s health, financial situation, employment status and other life circumstances will determine which healthcare coverage makes the most sense.
| Short Term | Parent’s Plan | ACA | Employer | Medicaid | College |
| Sample Rate (monthly premium) | $94.18 [7] | Varies by type | $317.11 [8] (unsubsidized bronze plan) |
$79.11 [9] (subsidized bronze plan)
Open or special enrollment only
Open or special enrollment only
During new hire period or employee open enrollment
Eligibility criteria apply
