Check your birth certificate. Were you born in 1989?

How about 1988? 1990? For many young adults in the U.S. today, these dates carry some serious significance.

Under the current Affordable Care Act, you can stay under your parents’ insurance until you turn 26. At that point, it’s up to you to secure affordable, reliable healthcare coverage. If you’re unsure how to do this, don’t worry! You’re certainly not alone, and plenty of resources exist to help you get started.

The first step to take is to visit Covered California’s official website. Explore the pages, browse their documents and tips, and read their FAQs. The site is packed with valuable, pertinent information, and it’s a good idea to brush up on what you need to know before applying.

Done perusing the site? Now find out if you’re eligible for coverage here. The open enrollment period for healthcare coverage beginning in 2016 is Nov. 1, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016, so we’re not quite there yet. However, you may still qualify for a special enrollment period, Medicaid, or CHIP. Take the screener at the link above to find out if any of these will work for you.

Still need help?

This is a big step in your life, and it’s completely reasonable to have questions and/or doubts. With everything streamlined through online services, sometimes you need face-to-face interactions or a real person to help you out.

In San Diego County, some of our grantees can provide the assistance you need.

Bayside Community Center (Linda Vista), Somali Family Service, and Council of Community Clinics all specialize in enrollment and can answer your questions or point you in the right direction. If you prefer to speak over the phone, 2-1-1 San Diego, a 2014 grantee, is one of the community’s premiere health resources. Give them a buzz, and they’ll get you the information you need.

Once you’re on the right track, let your friends know what you did to get healthcare coverage. Chances are, they’ll need to know too, and you can help facilitate the process for them. Together, we can make sure we’re covered now and into the future!

Did you recently pass the 26-year-old cutoff? How did you go about getting healthcare coverage? What would you recommend to someone looking to do the same? Leave a comment, and we’ll discuss this topic! 

– Nancy Sasaki, Executive Director, Alliance Healthcare Foundation