HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR AT-RISK, HOMELESS, AND VULNERABLE YOUTH
Health insurance and its many different options can be difficult to understand as adults, let alone young people experiencing significant hardship. It is important to never assume that one cannot obtain health care if you have limited resources or lack family support. Options are available for young individuals to receive essential health coverage, often for free or at a lower cost, even if you can’t get health insurance through a family member.
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If you are limited to obtaining health insurance due to poverty, homelessness, or other challenging life circumstances, you are still eligible for alternative low-cost or no-cost coverage. You can stay on your family’s health insurance plan until you turn age 26, even if:
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You don’t stay in close contact
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You don’t live at home
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You’re pregnant or parenting
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You have a job
If you cannot, for any reason, get health insurance from a family member’s plan, you can still access low-cost or no-cost coverage through Medicaid and CHIP and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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Source: Affordable Health Insurance
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There are also health insurance options college students. Most colleges, universities, and other institutions offer health insurance often called “campus health insurance,” or “student health plans.” According to The New York Times, campus health insurance can cost $2,000 to $4,000 per academic year, and the expense is usually included in the tuition bill.
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Source: Good Rx Health
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The following are resources for Utah LGBTQ+ youth who may be experiencing health insurance instability:
Medicaid and CHIP for At-risk Youth
Medicaid for at-risk youth offers essential health coverage to qualifying applicants, including preventive care, prescriptions, reproductive health, and mental health services. Medicaid is available if you’re an inmate of a public institution.
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CHIP is the Medicaid program for uninsured families and children — including vulnerable and at-risk young adults — with limited financial resources who do not meet the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or other qualifications Medicaid requires. It provides essential health coverage, including dental and vision.
Federal and State Health Insurance Marketplaces for At-risk Youth
The Health Insurance Marketplace is essentially a coverage aggregator where anyone can search for health insurance to suit their needs. Filling out the initial information at Healthccare.gov will direct you to Medicaid if your situation qualifies you for it or to low or no-cost coverages available through the marketplace with discounts or credits.
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The Health Insurance Marketplace and state health insurance exchanges provide affordable coverage for vulnerable youth, including young adults:
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Experiencing or at risk of homelessness
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In the foster system currently or previously
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Pregnant and parenting
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Living significantly under the federal poverty level
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With disabilities
You can get health insurance as a young person even if your parents or guardians do not have coverage.
UPP
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UPP is for adults and children who do not currently have health insurance or enroll in COBRA coverage
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UPP will help you pay your monthly premiums when you enroll in your employer’s health insurance plan or COBRA
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You or your dependents may qualify for UPP based on family size, income, and if your employer’s health insurance plan or COBRA coverage meets basic guidelines
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If you or your dependents qualify, UPP will reimburse you up to $300 per adult and up to $120 per child in the family–every month!
(435) 753-0724
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(801) 479-7721
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(801) 322-5571
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(801) 973-9675
Planned Parenthood Care No Matter What
Planned Parenthood is one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With or without insurance, you can always come to us for your health care. If you're concerned about cost, you may qualify for low- or no-cost services.
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You can fill your birth control prescriptions at our health center instead of the pharmacy. During open hours.
You can come to us for services that don’t require a medical exam. For example, birth control education and supplies; emergency contraception (AKA the morning after pill); pregnancy testing and counseling; STD testing, and testing and treatments for urinary tract infections.
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Additional Services offered include abortion, abortion referrals, birth control, HIV services, men's health care, morning-after pill (emergency contraception) pregnancy testing and services, STD testing, treatment, and vaccines, and women's health care.