Step 1: Investigate Your Health Insurance Options
If you're claimed as a dependent on your parent/guardian’s taxes
- Explore if you can be added to your parent/guardian’s health insurance plan. In NYS, dependents are eligible to be on their parent/guardian’s plan until age 26. Note that some insurance policies allow dependents to be on their parent/guardian’s health insurance plan up to age 29. The subscriber on the plan should contact the insurance carrier or their Human Resources to learn about eligibility, cost, and how to enroll.
- Apply for coverage through the NYS Health Insurance Marketplace. As a dependent, you can apply for health insurance for you alone; however, you will include your parents/guardians and other household members on your application. If your parents/guardians live outside NYS, you will complete your own application and state that your parents/guardians and other household members do not need insurance.
What is a dependent?
A dependent is a person who relies on someone else for financial support. Dependents can include children or other relatives. Being a dependent means that your parent/guardian can claim a dependency exemption on their tax return as long as the dependent meets the qualifying definition according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
If you’re NOT claimed as a dependent on your parent/guardian’s taxes
- Explore if you are eligible for health insurance through your job, even as a part-time worker.
- Apply for coverage through the NYS Health Insurance Marketplace. Typically, you will not include your parent/guardian’s information on the applications. If you're under 21, you may need to provide information about your parents/guardians and their income to complete the application.