Getting health coverage for adult children

The number one health insurance problem we get calls about? People trying to find affordable coverage for their adult children. (We're the state insurance regulator in Washington.)

Starting soon -- and some major health insurers have already started to do this -- parents will generally be able to keep their kids covered up to age 26. In many cases, "soon" means next January 1, 2011. But depending on when your policy renews, it could be months later than that.

The New York Times recently did a story aiming to help parents struggling with this figure out what their options are, such as getting coverage through student health plans or buying an individual health insurance policy.

If you live in Washington state and need free help navigating this, give our consumer advocacy staff a call: 1-800-562-6900.