Last week, I ran into someone I know at the trailhead parking lot, and the first topic wasn't hiking but insurance. Their oldest child will turn 26 next spring, and they were unsure when they would be dropped from their parents' insurance.

As I listened, I realized this was not just someone else's issue. With the fall open enrollment starting at many companies, now is the perfect time to sort this out.

So this week, I looked up official information one piece at a time. I'll list what I confirmed in order.

First, the basic principle. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), children can stay on their parents' health insurance until they turn 26.

It doesn't matter if they are married, not a student, or living separately. However, the exact date they are dropped on their 26th birthday varies by insurance plan.

Some company plans end on the birthday itself, while others may end at the end of that month or even at the end of the year. Don't guess; make sure to check with your company's HR or the Summary Plan Description (SPD).

During this open enrollment, you just need to ask HR one simple question: What is the exact date our child's coverage ends?

Once you know the date, the next calculations become easier. The key is the special enrollment period that begins based on the date you lose coverage.

According to HealthCare.gov, if you lose coverage from your parents' insurance, you can enroll in a marketplace plan from 60 days before to 60 days after the coverage ends. That's a total of 120 days.

What's important here is that enrolling early is advantageous. If you sign up before the end date, the new insurance will start on the first of the following month, preventing any gaps in coverage.

So, even if the birthday is early next year, there's no need to wait idly. Once the end date is confirmed, mark the date 60 days prior on your calendar.

It's also good to know the general open enrollment schedule. Tennessee uses HealthCare.gov, and CMS has confirmed that the enrollment period for 2027 plans will be from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027.

However, to be covered starting January 1, you must enroll by December 15. If you enroll after December 16, coverage will begin on February 1.

The original federal regulation from 2025 aimed to move the enrollment deadline to December 15. However, in June of this year, a Maryland federal court invalidated that provision, and the government has appealed.

CMS has stated that regardless of the appeal outcome, this season will go until January 15. Still, I would consider December 15 as the actual deadline.

We also need to discuss premiums. The additional subsidies that increased since 2021 will end on December 31, 2025, and no extension bills have passed so far.

Therefore, starting in 2026, the structure where subsidies disappear entirely if income exceeds 400% of the federal poverty line will be back in effect. If your child has just started their first job, it's wise to assess where their income might fall.

Another option is COBRA. If a child loses dependent status, they can continue their parents' company insurance through COBRA for up to 36 months.

There is one condition. According to the Department of Labor, either the parent or child must notify the plan administrator within 60 days of losing eligibility.

COBRA is generally expensive since it requires the individual to pay the full premium without any company contribution. It's worth considering if they need to maintain the same doctor and network due to ongoing treatment.

If the child's workplace offers insurance, that is often the simplest option. Just check if the enrollment timing and waiting period align with the end date.

In this area, where many families are military families, the situation is a bit different. TRICARE generally covers children until age 21, or until age 23 if they are full-time college students.

After that, they must purchase TRICARE Young Adult until age 26. They must be unmarried and not eligible for their own employer's insurance to enroll.

There is a bill to extend TRICARE coverage until age 26 without additional costs, but it was not included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and has not yet passed.

So, military families will ultimately need to switch to private insurance once their child turns 26. The end of TRICARE also qualifies as a special enrollment reason for the marketplace.

In summary, the steps are straightforward: confirm the end date, check for the child's workplace insurance, compare marketplace quotes, and then consider COBRA.

Don't just look at premiums; also check if the child's hospital is in-network. Since plan conditions vary by family, if you're unsure, be sure to consult an insurance navigator or HR representative.

Just like having a map before reaching a fork in the road helps avoid getting lost, checking your insurance this fall by confirming one date will make next year much easier.