If you’re under 30, you can get health coverage a few different ways, some designed specifically for you. Here are some different ways to get health coverage.
Getting or staying on a parent’s plan
Buying your own insurance plan
- Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for savings based on your income. You can pick a "Catastrophic" health plan — a way to protect yourself mainly from worst-case scenarios.
- One catch: If someone claims you as a tax dependent, you can buy a plan through the Marketplace but won't qualify for savings based on your income.
Student health plans
- If you're in school, you may be able to enroll in a student health plan — and meet the requirement for having coverage under the health care law.
Medicaid and CHIP
- If your income is low or you have certain life situations, you could qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid.
- If your state has expanded Medicaid coverage, you can qualify based on your income alone — in many states that have expanded, that's about $16,753 for a single person, about $22,715 for a married couple with no children. Do a quick check here.
- In all states, you can qualify based on factors including income, some family situations like pregnancy and having young children, and disability.
- If you have children, they might qualify for coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — even if you don't qualify for Medicaid.
Fill out a Marketplace application any time of year to find out if you qualify for Medicaid and CHIP. Get started now.