Can parents kick their student children off of their family health insurance policy?

Question

I was told by one person that as long as a dependent remains a full time student, they can still be on their parents' health insurance plan, even if they do not live at home. However, my fiance and I are thinking about getting an apartment together (he lives at home but goes to a university full time) and when he told his mother about it, she said that he would not be on their family insurance policy anymore.

Which one is right?

Answer 1

I went away at college, lived in my own apartment after my Freshman year b/c no housing was available...but since my parents provided for more than 50% of my expenses, I could be claimed as a LEGAL DEPENDENT.

Your residence HAS NOTHING to do with it.

Whose right?  His mother is.

She evidently isn't going to support a "shack up" arrangement.

If he's a big boy, and wants to play house, then she doesn't think she should foot the bill for it.

As a mother, neither do I.

If you are old enough to play house, you are old enough to pay YOUR OWN bills.  

PS:  You'll also be taking away any incentive your fiance has to marrying you...if he has all the benefits of marriage by living together, then why in the heck should he make the legal commitment?

Answer 2

His mother is not obligated to keep him on the policy, even if he is a full time student.  She could *choose* to do so, as long as he met all the eligibility requirements.

However, if she decides for whatever reason that she doesn't want to keep covering him, she's free to drop him at open enrollment or during the year if a qualifying event occurs.  (And technically, if she tells her employer that her son has moved in with his fiance and is no longer financially dependent on her, the employer may possibly consider that a qualifying event and allow him to be dropped right away rather than waiting until open enrollment.)

I'm guessing that his mom doesn't like the idea of you guys moving in together, and she's holding it over his head that she'll drop the coverage if he moves in with you.  And, unfortunately for your fiance, that is something that she's entitled to do.

Answer 3

It is up to his mother as long as he remains a full time student he does not need to live at home. Maybe she is confused because if you get married then the insurance company will kick him off. Or maybe she does not like the idea of you moving in together.

Answer 4

Generally, dependant children that are full-time students do not have to reside in the home to be covered. But they must meet the eligibility requirements in the policy-so the answer lies in the policy.

Answer 5

Absolutely Yes! It's the parents policy so she can change it any way she wants, hence she pays for it. or the other way you can insure anyone you want to living in your home or not. unless the policy says different, it may have a disclaimer.

Answer 6

Since its her coverage, I would guess she is.

Answer 7

just because your a dependent doesn't mean that you have to be on your parents health insurance no matter how old you are.

Answer 8

Who knows?  Each insurance company is allowed to have their own rules.  HOWEVER, generally, when a child moves out of the house legally, they aren't a dependent any more, and won't qualify.  If they can't claim you as a dependent on their taxes, you may not qualify.

And frankly, if you were my kid, and wanted to shack up with someone, I'd cut off all the money - you want to play grownup?  Support yourself and pay your own college.  And have fun dropping out to work a minimum wage job when the unplanned pregnancy happens.

Shacking up DOUBLES your chances of a divorce later in life.  And the fastest track to poverty for a  young woman is single motherhood.  Yeah, I know, he'll marry you if you get knocked up.  That's what all the single mothers I've known have always thought, then they get left to raise the baby on their own.

BAD IDEA.  And NOT just because of the health insurance.