Yes, if you claim your child on your federal taxes, you should list them on your Marketplace application, regardless of your legal relationship with the child.

Before you enroll, it is important to make sure the plan you pick covers you and your child together. This will depend on how the plan defines a “family.” You can usually find this information by looking at the “Evidence of Coverage” or the “Certificate of Coverage,” which is the full explanation of what is covered or excluded under each plan. If this information is not available, you may need to call the insurers in your state to see what type of coverage is available.

If you cannot find a plan that covers both you and your child, you may be able to enroll yourself and your child individually or check if your child is eligible for your state’s Medicaid program or Children’s Health Insurance Program. After you fill out your application, you’ll be told whether your child qualifies and notified by your state.

We encourage you to take advantage of free help (either in-person or by phone) from a trained assister to help you consider your options.