Turning 26? Here's why you may lose your health insurance and how to enroll in a new plan.

Young adulthood is full of milestones, from the age of 21 and the first legal drink to 26 and getting kicked off your parents' health insurance.

If you are turning 26 or have a child who is, here is everything you need to know about the next steps of health insurance coverage.

Why do children get kicked off from their parents' healthcare at 26?

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare , requires that health insurance companies cover dependent children on their parents' plans until they are 26. Most can stay on the healthcare plan even if they live outside the state, get married, or have children.

Before the passing of the ACA in 2010, insurance companies often dropped dependents off plans at 19 and 23 if the dependent was a full-time student.

What is the ACA or Obamacare?

The ACA, or Obamacare, is a federal law that aims to make affordable health insurance available to more people, expand Medicaid eligibility across the nation, and improve the quality of care.

The law previously required most Americans to have health insurance or face a penalty, but this requirement was repealed in 2019.

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Can I stay on my parent's health insurance past 26 in Iowa?

In Iowa, some individuals can qualify to stay on their parent's health insurance past 26. Disabled dependents and full-time students can also stay on their parents' health insurance indefinitely.

In neighboring states like Illinois, children can stay on their parents' healthcare until they are 30 if they are residents, veterans and unmarried. In Nebraska, the cutoff is also 30, and children must be state residents or full-time students, unmarried, and not have other health insurance.

How can I enroll in Obamacare in Iowa?

Most people seek health insurance coverage through their employer. However, there are other options for health insurance.

The ACA passed and introduced the ACA Marketplace, or healthcare.gov , an online platform where individuals and families can shop for and enroll in health insurance. This provides people with more access to affordable health coverage.

On the marketplace, individuals can compare different health insurance plans based on factors like cost, coverage and deductibles to see if they qualify for Medicaid or subsidies for enrolling in a private plan. The plans sold through the marketplace cover essential care, including preventive care, emergency services and prescriptions.

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA , can be another option. COBRA is a federal law that allows individuals to keep their group health insurance plan if they experience certain life events, such as getting laid off, leaving their job, reduction of hours, or losing coverage through death or divorce.

Typically, COBRA allows individuals to keep health benefits for 18 to 36 months, depending on the event. Not all insurance plans are COBRA-eligible, and the premiums can be expensive since they are not subsidized, and the individual is responsible for paying the full amount each month.

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When can I enroll in health insurance coverage?

Annually, the ACA marketplace open enrollment period begins on Nov. 1 . Open enrollment is the first day of the year when individuals can enroll, renew, or change health insurance coverage through the ACA marketplace and get covered for the new year.

The last day to enroll or change plans for coverage to start on Jan. 1, 2025, is Dec. 15, 2024. On Jan. 15, the open enrollment period ends, and coverage will start on Feb. 1.

You can also enroll in a new plan any time if you have a qualifying life event, like losing coverage elsewhere because you turned 26 .

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Turning 26? Here's why you may lose your health insurance and how to enroll in a new plan.