Can My Grandchild Be On My Health Insurance?

Many grandparents these days are taking more active roles in the lives of their grandchildren. In some cases this may include financial support such as providing health insurance coverage. However the question of whether a grandchild can be covered on a grandparent’s health insurance plan is not always a simple one to answer.

Factors that Determine Health Insurance Coverage for Grandchildren

Whether or not a grandchild can be covered on a grandparent’s health insurance plan depends on several factors:

• The grandparent’s insurance policy
• The state in which the grandparent resides
• The age of the grandchild

Grandparent’s Insurance Policy

Some insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for grandchildren while others may allow it under certain circumstances. It is important for grandparents to carefully review their insurance policy to determine if grandchildren are eligible for coverage.

State Laws

State laws also play a role in determining whether a grandparent can add a grandchild to their health insurance plan. In some states grandparents are allowed to include their grandchildren on their policy while in others they are not.

Age of Grandchild

The age of the grandchild may also impact whether they can be covered on a grandparent’s health insurance plan. For example some insurance companies may only allow grandchildren to be covered until they reach a certain age such as 26.

Options for Grandparents

For grandparents who are not able to include their grandchildren on their health insurance plan there are still other options available. The grandchild’s parents may be able to enroll them in a public health insurance program such as Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Additionally the grandparent may be able to help the grandchild’s parents pay for a separate health insurance policy.

Conclusion

While it is possible for grandparents to add their grandchildren to their health insurance plan it is important to carefully review the policy state laws to determine if it is an option. If not there are other ways for grandparents to provide health insurance coverage for their grandchildren.