A key provision of The Affordable Care Act is that dependents can stay on their parent’s health insurance to age 26. But is it the day you turn 26? End of the month you turn 26? End of the year you turn 26? Some other date?

The answer is, it could be any of those and even to age 27!

The Healthcare.gov guidelines are here. The key phrase is “some states and plans have different rules.”

Case in point.

Harry’s daughter turned 26 March 24^th. His insurer’s website indicated she would lose coverage at the end of the month, but his plan document said she would be covered until age 27.

Turns out Harry’s employer has two different health plans. Even though they’re both with the same insurer, the aging out dates are different.

The lesson?

If you have a dependent turning 26, consult your plan document. Or call your agent. Or, both!

FYI, when a dependent ages out of a parent’s plan, regardless of pre-existing conditions, coverage can be continued through COBRA or an SEP – Special Election Period for individual coverage – presuming you act in a timely fashion.

And thanks Harry, for keeping us on our toes!