Employer-based plans usually offer coverage through the end\u00a0of a child\u2019s 26th birthday month, while state or federal plans<\/a> usually end coverage Dec. 31 the year a child turns 26, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners<\/a>. Those who don\u2019t have insurance through their workplace can seek plans through their state or federal marketplace.<\/p>\n Around 15% of 26-year-olds opt to continue without insurance, according to KFF,<\/a> a nonprofit health policy research, polling and news organization. That\u2019s the highest rate among any age group in the United States, the group said.<\/p>\n Affordability is one of the biggest reasons people forgo coverage, said Marilyn Cabrera, health care policy and advocacy manager with Young Invincibles<\/a>, a national nonprofit advocacy group for young adults between 18 and 34 that has an office in Manhattan.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there’s this myth that young adults maybe don\u2019t need coverage because they’re healthier,\u201d Cabrera said. But, \u201csometimes we see that young adults do still have chronic illnesses \u2026 and nearly half of uninsured young adults report having problems paying medical bills.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n People without health insurance are more likely to struggle to access care due to cost, according to KFF<\/a>, and more broadly, a large uninsured population could mean lower economic productivity.<\/p>\n The milestone may become more difficult to afford if pandemic-era health insurance tax breaks aren\u2019t renewed at the end of this year. The issue has divided Democrats and Republicans in a government shutdown that has now extended for nearly a month, Newsday has reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n A Washington Post analysis<\/a> predicts that the most popular health insurance plans sold on the federal marketplace Healthcare.gov will spike an average 30% next year.<\/p>\n Here are four tips for young adults looking to enroll in\u00a0health insurance coverage by the time they turn\u00a026.<\/p>\n Can I stay on my parent’s plan after I turn 26?<\/p>\n Some employers offer plans that can bring a child through age 29 by adding a rider, said Michael Margolis, CEO of Manhattan-based insurance broker Margolis &\u00a0Associates.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also possible, if a parent\u2019s health plan is sponsored by a workplace with 20 or more employees, that a young adult may qualify to temporarily extend health coverage up to 36 months under a law called COBRA<\/a>\u00a0for a cost up to 102% the premium for that period, he said. <\/p>\n In New York, smaller workplaces with fewer than 20 employees must also provide COBRA benefits known as State Continuance to children aging out of their parents\u2019 health plans, which entitles the young adult to 36 months of coverage at a monthly rate of 102% the actual cost to the employer, according to the state<\/a>.<\/p>\n It’s important to read “the fine print” of a parent’s plan, said Kirat Kharode, CEO and managing partner at Pinewood Family Care Co.<\/a> in New Jersey, a medical practice that operates based on a subscription-based model designed to lower health care costs for patients. He warned: “Some people lose coverage at midnight on their birthday, others stay on through the month or year. Unfortunately, a lot of people don\u2019t realize it until they\u2019re suddenly uninsured.”<\/p>\n How do I choose a plan through my employer?<\/p>\n For those\u00a0with an employer-sponsored plan, \u201cit\u2019s really important that they talk to their HR folks and they understand what their benefits are and what those costs are,\u201d Kharode said.\u00a0It\u2019s also important to learn the jargon that comes with the health insurance industry, like \u201cco-pay\u201d and \u201cdeductible,\u201d he added. \u201cThese are terms that will come up often and they\u2019re ones that are specific to the insurance plan that they choose, whether they choose it from the individual marketplace or they choose it through their employer-sponsored plan.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstand your options, the benefits that exist and what you\u2019re looking to get out of it,\u201d Kharode said.<\/p>\n What if I don\u2019t have an employer-sponsored plan?<\/p>\n Young people seeking individual health care plans should\u00a0start by looking at what plans are available and their cost by checking their state exchanges, Kharode said.<\/p>\n In New York, residents can shop for health insurance online at New York State of Health<\/a>. Depending on income, some people may also qualify for free or inexpensive insurance from Medicaid or the Essential Plan.<\/p>\n Are there experts to help me navigate the marketplace?<\/p>\n