Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), children up to age 26 are eligible for health coverage under their parents’ Self & Family enrollment. The law also states that:
- Married children are allowed to be covered
- There are no dependency requirements
- There are no residency requirements
- A child is not required to be a student
- A child is not required to have prior or current insurance coverage
Health care coverage for young adults
- Children between ages 22 and 26 are eligible for coverage under their parents’ Self and Family enrollment.
- Married children (but NOT their spouse or own children) are eligible for coverage up to age 26. This is true even if the child is currently under age 22.
- Children with or eligible for employer-provided health insurance are eligible up to age 26.
- Stepchildren do not need to live with the enrollee in a parent-child relationship to be eligible up to age 26.
- Children incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that began before age 26 are eligible to continue coverage.
- Foster children must be placed with the enrollee by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
How to add a child under 26 to your APWU Health Plan
If you currently have Self coverage
You must switch to a Self & Family plan during Open Season and include the child in the enrollment.
If you currently have Self & Family coverage
You must notify us that you wish to add a dependent and provide us with the necessary information. The High Option and the Consumer Driven Option may handle this differently.
- If you are currently not enrolled in the PSHB or FEHB Program and would like to cover an eligible child, you must enroll in Self & Family coverage during Open Season.
- If you make an Open Season change, that change will take effect on the first day of the first pay period of the year.