When you apply for health coverage through Explore Health, you will be asked about the people in your household.
Your household information helps determine:
- Who can enroll in coverage
- How much financial help you may qualify for
- Which programs may be available to you
For most people, your Explore Health household includes:
- You
- Your spouse, if you're married
- Anyone you claim as a tax dependent
Who should you include on your application?
Usually, you should include:
- Your spouse
- Children you claim on your taxes
- Other dependents you claim on your taxes
Include these household members even if they do not need health coverage.
Children and dependents
Children on a family plan
Most children can stay on a parent's health plan until:
- December 31 of the year they turn 26
This is true even if the child:
- Is married
- Does not live at home
- Is not claimed on a parent's taxes
Some dependents with physical or developmental disabilities may qualify to stay on a family plan longer.
Foster and adopted children
Include foster children and adopted children if you claim them as dependents.
Shared custody
If you share custody of a child:
- Include the child only during the years you claim them as a tax dependent.
Children under 21 in your care
Include children under age 21 who live with you and are in your care, even if they are not your tax dependents.
Who should not be included?
Usually, do not include:
- Roommates
- Friends you live with
- Former spouses
- Legally separated spouses
- Adult children over 21 who you do not claim as dependents, and for whom you are not purchasing coverage
Unmarried partners are included only in some situations, such as:
- You have a child together
- One partner is claimed as a tax dependent
What if you are single?
If you:
- File your own taxes
- Are not claimed as someone else's dependent
- Have no dependents
Then your household is usually just:
What if someone in the household does not need coverage?
You should still include them on your application if they are part of your tax household.
Explore Health savings are based on household size and household income, not just the people applying for coverage.
You can still choose which household members want health coverage.
Who is the primary applicant?
The primary applicant is the person who receives:
- Important notices
- Coverage updates
- Enrollment and tax information
Usually, the main tax filer is the primary applicant.
Who is the subscriber?
The subscriber is the main person listed on the health plan, who is responsible for paying premiums.
In most cases:
- The main tax filer is also the subscriber
If the tax filer is not applying for coverage:
- The oldest adult enrolling in coverage becomes the subscriber
For child-only applications:
- The youngest child is listed as the subscriber
What if people in the household qualify for different savings?
Some household members may qualify for different levels of financial help.
In many cases, household members can still enroll in:
- Different health plans
- Different coverage levels
This can help households choose coverage that works best for each person's needs.
Reporting household and income changes
It's important to update your application if your household changes during the year.
Examples include:
- Income changes
- Moving to a new home
- Marriage or divorce
- Having or adopting a baby
- Changes in custody
- Someone moving in or out
- Gaining or losing a tax dependent
These changes may affect:
- Your monthly savings
- Your eligibility for programs
- Your health coverage options
Need help?
Explore Health can help you:
- Understand who to include on your application
- Estimate household income
- Compare coverage options
- Learn about financial help
Free enrollment help is available.