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  • With specific policies, you are able to have your mother on your insurance
  • There are usually certain stipulations such as claiming the parent on your taxes or residency restrictions
  • Medicare is also a viable option for health insurance coverage for those over 65

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Your mom will only be covered under your health insurance policy if you specifically purchase a plan designed to include her. There are many reasons why you might want your father or mother covered under your health insurance.

Perhaps your parents live outside the United States and you want coverage for them during visits. You might also be looking for ways to help an elderly mom with expenses and prescription medicine costs.

Taking care you loved has never been easier. Enter you zip code above and start comparing health insurance quotes today!

How can I get parental coverage?

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Today, more people than ever before find themselves in what is commonly called the sandwich generation. This means that they are often responsible for the well-being of their children as well as their parents.

In addition, statistics demonstrate that more than 50 percent of elderly citizens may have to deal with some form of debilitating illness for which extended care will be needed.

It is important to read your policy carefully and when you have concerns, do not hesitate to contact your insurance representative. The wording varies depending on your insurance provider and type of coverage.

Be sure to look at the  benefits summary plan section, which usually lists who and what is protected under your plan. This is something you want to be sure of before the time comes that you really need it.

Will my mom be covered under my employer-provided plan?

AdobeStock_108003490-1600x1600Health insurance comes in many forms, from employer supported to independent payer. Health insurance companies use a variety of factors to determine how much coverage you will require and for whom.

Some adults are covered under parental insurance, such as college students who can be a dependent until the age of 26.

However, having a parent covered under the insurance of their offspring carries with it a unique set of variables.

Most employer-provided health insurance plans do not allow you to add a parent to your policy, even if your parent can qualify as a dependent. Although provisions are granted for others, such as college-age children and other unique live-in situations, parents are still left out.

Like any other company, your employer is operating a business and similar to everyone else, they must make money in order to survive.

Adding elderly relatives to a health insurance plan can be considered risky and expensive, as well as outside normal industry practices.

Some companies have been praised for thinking outside the box and arranging to allow employees to add parents to their policy.

Nevertheless, this can only be accomplished during negotiations at the contract reinstatement period or when the agreement is purchased for the first time.

Research has shown that the larger the company, the more open they tend to be to new ideas and options. On the other hand, no employer is required to offer every type of coverage to its employees.

Problems and Options

adobestock_81004631-1600x1600To qualify for health insurance plans that include parents, there are usually certain stipulations such as claiming the parent on your taxes or residency restrictions.

You should be aware that some of these policies are written to exclude specific adults in the household, such as a live-in partner.

If none of the plans above are available to you, there are other options to consider. For instance, you may be able to look into health insurance arrangements offered by the region or state you live in.

For some of these you might have to separate your income from your parent’s so they can qualify based solely on their limited earnings status.

The human resources office where you work can be a good resource for additional information about this issue. You can also talk to someone from the health department in your county.

They could be aware of opportunities you may have missed. Long-term care insurance is also something to be discussed.

This can give you coverage, as well as peace of mind, if your mom should ever require nursing home or hospice services.

Another alternative is to see if your mom might be eligible for Medicare, which has options that are backed by major insurance companies.

This is certainly not the most favorable selection, but something you can look into when all else fails. With the rising cost of medical care, it is important not to let your mom fall into the category of uninsured.

Use our FREE online tool and start comparing health insurance quotes now!

[su_spoiler title=”References:” icon=”caret-square” style=”fancy” open=”yes”]

  1. http://www.livestrong.com/article/238863-how-to-make-your-parent-a-dependent-for-insurance
  2. http://healthcoverageguide.org/reference-guide/eligibility-and-enrollment/eligible-employees-and-dependents/
  3. https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/income-too-high-for-tax-credit/
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_health_departments_in_the_United_States
  5. https://www.medicare.gov/eligibilitypremiumcalc/

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