Honed Proof
Turning 26? Here's your coverage game plan.
Under the ACA you can stay on a parent's health plan until 26 — then it ends. Enter the birthday, get every deadline and a plain-English look at your options.
Enter the 26th birthday
Get a personalized timeline, an action checklist with exact dates, and a side-by-side of the coverage options.
COVERAGE TYPICALLY ENDS
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Your timeline
Key dates, computed from the birthday. Verify the end date with the parent's plan.
Action checklist
Check items off as you go — progress is saved in this browser.
Don't get tripped up
- Verify the exact end date. Most employer plans end coverage at the end of the birth month, but some end on the 26th birthday itself. The parent's HR or benefits portal has the answer.
- COBRA is a bridge, not a plan. It lets you stay on the parent's plan up to 36 months after aging out — but you pay the full premium plus a 2% fee, often $500+/month.
- Keep proof of prior coverage. Save the termination letter — the marketplace may ask for proof you lost coverage when you apply.
- Dental and vision often end too. Check those separately; they're frequently on different timelines.