Your children can remain on your health insurance plan until they are 26 years old.
You knew from the moment you held your newborn son in your arms that you would do anything to protect him. When your daughter took her first wobbly steps, you were filled with a mixture of pride, joy and concern for her safety.
As they got older and became more mobile and independent, riding bikes and driving cars, those protective instincts and concerns for their safety never faded. When they moved out to go to college, joined the workforce or got married, you still felt that protective instinct.
One of the ways you’ve been able to provide for them over the years is with health insurance coverage. And if your son or daughter has developed a problem with drugs or alcohol, insurance may be able to help pay for treatment.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re trying to provide insurance coverage for your adult child who is struggling with addiction.
You might be worried your kids are too old to remain on your plan. What if they’ve moved out or have a job of their own? Can they still qualify for your more comprehensive insurance plan?
With the current healthcare laws in place, your child can remain on your plan (or be added to it) until 26 years old. It doesn’t matter if they’re living on their own or even married.
Once your child is 26, it’s time to enroll in a separate health insurance plan. Fortunately, this opens up a special enrollment period that gives your child the opportunity to purchase an individual health insurance plan.
If it’s too late to add your child to your own plan, you can help look for new coverage during open enrollment. This period only lasts until December 15, and coverage begins January 1, 2019 if your premium is paid. Some states may have an extended deadline, but your coverage may start later than January 1.
If your child is in the workforce, they may have opportunities to join their employers’ insurance plans, but those may have different enrollment dates. Your child will need to work with their HR representative to find out enrollment details.
Depending on your (or your child’s) individual health insurance plan, different levels of addiction treatment might be covered. To avoid any costly surprises, you should check with an insurance representative before committing to a particular facility or program. Some questions you might ask are:
We understand how difficult it can be to watch your child struggle with addiction. You want what’s best for them, and so do we.
At Design for Change, we work to heal the mind, body and spirit through a variety of therapy models—each selected to meet the individual needs of our clients.
Addiction is a disease that impacts the entire family. Through education about addiction and enabling behaviors, as well as therapy that includes family participation, you can begin the process of healing in your home.
If you have questions about cost or insurance coverage, our admissions experts are here to help. Don’t wait another moment to get your child the help he or she needs. Contact us today.