After Graduation Health Insurance

Graduation ends student health plan eligibility (usually at term end or a few months after) — but it doesn't have to mean going uninsured. Here's every path, in the order you should consider them.

Your options, ranked

• Parent's plan to 26: if a parent has employer or Marketplace coverage, you can stay on it until age 26 — usually the cheapest, best option. Check whether the parent's plan has a network where you're moving, though.
• New employer's plan: starting a job with benefits? Mind the waiting period — bridge the gap (see below).
• Marketplace: graduation itself isn't a qualifying event, but losing student coverage is — 60-day SEP. Young, often lower-income = strong tax credits; catastrophic or Bronze plans keep premiums minimal.
• Medicaid: in expansion states, low-income recent grads often qualify — check before buying anything.

The gap traps

• Student plan end date: know the exact date — it's often not graduation day.
• Moving for a job: the move itself triggers a Marketplace SEP — useful if you missed the student-coverage window.
• "I'll risk the summer": the most expensive sentence a 22-year-old can say. One ER visit costs more than a year of catastrophic-plan premiums.

What young invincibles should buy

Prioritize: low premium, real catastrophic protection, free preventive care. Catastrophic plans (under 30 or hardship) or Bronze plans fit. Add the free annual checkup habit now — it's the cheapest health investment you'll ever make.

Common graduate mistakes

• Not knowing the student plan's end date — it's often not graduation day; find the exact date.
• "Risking the summer" — the most expensive sentence a 22-year-old can say.
• Ignoring the parent's plan to 26 — usually the cheapest path; check the network where you're moving.
• Missing the loss-of-coverage SEP — 60 days from the student plan ending; calendar it.

Pro tip: a catastrophic or Bronze plan plus the free annual checkup is the graduate starter pack — minimal premium, real protection, good habits.

The bottom line

Graduation ends the student plan, not your need for coverage. Parent's plan to 26, loss-of-coverage SEP, or the new employer's plan — pick your path before the student coverage ends, and never "risk the summer."

Key takeaway

Know the student plan's exact end date, check the parent's plan to 26 first, use the loss-of-coverage SEP if needed, and never risk the gap summer. A catastrophic or Bronze plan plus the free annual checkup is the graduate starter pack.

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