If your girlfriend or boyfriend doesn't have health insurance, you may be able to add them to your health insurance policy, but this will depend on your living situation and finances as a couple. Here, we'll look into what's typically required for adding your partner to your policy and how to make that happen.
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You can add your boyfriend or girlfriend to your policy, but your relationship must qualify as a domestic partnership.
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Domestic partnerships aren't federally recognized, so your ability to add your partner will depend on how your state defines a domestic partnership.
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You'll likely have to provide documents that prove that you and your partner are living together and share living costs.
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Exploring options is a good idea - having your partner enroll in a separate policy may be less expensive than adding them to your policy.
Eligibility for adding a girlfriend or boyfriend to a health insurance policy
The ability to add a girlfriend or boyfriend to your health insurance depends on your health insurance company, and this will also vary by state, as domestic partnerships aren't federally recognized. Health insurance companies may allow someone to add a girlfriend or boyfriend to a policy, but only if that person is a domestic partner.
A domestic partnership represents a major transitional phase in a relationship. You're living with that person instead of only seeing each other on dates. By moving in together, splitting living expenses, and including your partner in more facets of your life (such as making joint accounts), you've set the stage for a lifetime together. A domestic partnership usually leads to marriage, but it can be established without the intention of marriage. What matters is that you and your partner's lives have become fully integrated with the objective of an eternal commitment.
Can my girlfriend or boyfriend be considered as a domestic partner?
What defines a domestic partnership will vary depending on your state. Despite differences between states, these are the most common requirements:
- Individuals must be 18 or over.
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The couple must live together monogamously and share financial responsibilities.
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The individuals cannot be related to a degree that would make the marriage illegal.
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Can I add my girlfriend to my health insurance if we live together?
Cohabitation doesn't automatically translate to adding your girlfriend to your health insurance. The time you've lived together and the expenses you share will also determine whether you can add your girlfriend to your health insurance policy.
Can I add my fiance to my health insurance plan?
You can add your fiance if your relationship qualifies as a domestic partnership. However, it may be better to include them on your policy until after you're married.
This is especially true if you have coverage through an employer because marriage changes your premiums. You and your spouse's premiums aren't taxed when you're married but are subject to tax for those in domestic partnerships.
How to add partner to my health insurance plan?
Adding a domestic partner involves contacting your insurer and providing proof of your partnership. You can make this change during your health insurance plan's open enrollment period, which occurs during a specific time of the year.
Adding your partner to your policy requires:
- Contacting your insurer during your plan's open enrollment period.
- Providing documents (e.g. bank statements) to show that you and your partner share living expenses.
- Submitting forms that prove that you've been living together for a certain amount of time (usually six months or more).
If you and your partner meet your insurer's guidelines, your partner will be approved and added to your plan.
Will my girlfriend or boyfriend receive the same health insurance benefits as I do?
When you're part of the same policy, your girlfriend or boyfriend will receive the same benefits as you. The benefits won't change unless you elect to make coverage changes during the open enrollment period, which would apply to everyone covered under the policy.
Partner health insurance: shared or separate plans?
Even though your policy may allow you to add your partner, it's not always the best choice. It may cost more than it would be for your partner to enroll in a separate policy.
However, it's good to know what you can do and what you qualify for. If you're living with a partner, it may be a good idea to check with your insurer to see if you can add your partner and whether your relationship constitutes a domestic partnership. You can get a quote on your premiums and compare that figure to other health insurance quotes for policies your partner is interested in. Then, you can decide which coverage choice is best.
FAQ
Can I put my boyfriend on my health insurance?
Yes, as long as your health insurance allows for adding domestic partners and your relationship constitutes a domestic partnership. Gender is not an issue, either - same-sex couples and heterosexual couples can qualify.
Do all health insurance companies allow to share health insurance plans with partners?
Not all companies will allow adding a girlfriend or boyfriend to a health insurance policy, and not every company in a state that recognizes domestic partnerships will allow for adding an unmarried partner. This will vary from insurer to insurer.
How does adding a partner impact coverage?
While your coverage would be the same, your costs won't. Having more than one person on a health insurance plan will make that policy's premiums more expensive, which you must consider before adding someone.
4 resources
- United Way. Getting health insurance coverage for spouse/partner.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Domestic Partner Benefits FAQ.
- State of California Office of the Controller. Domestic Partnership FAQs.
- Healthcare.gov. How insurance companies set health premiums.
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