Most young people are covered under their parents’ health insurance policy. Starting September 2010, health plans are required to allow young people to remain on their parents’ insurance policy up to their 26th birthday.

If you are looking to purchase a private health insurance policy, an insurance agent in your local community can provide you with different options depending on your needs. You can find one at www.yellowpages.com

If your parents do not have health insurance and you live in California, you may qualify for one of the following plans if you meet certain income requirements:
Healthy Families Program- a low cost insurance for children and teens. It provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who do not have insurance and do not qualify for free Medi-Cal (a health insurance program for low income famlies, seniors and persons with certain medical conditions). http://www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov/Home/default.aspx
San Francisco Health Plan’s Healthy Kids Program- a program that offers complete medical, dental, and vision insurance to children up to age 18 at a very affordable cost. http://www.sfhp.org/visitors/programs/healthy_kids/

County hospitals and public health departments also offer low or reduced cost health care to residents in their community. You can locate them at www.yellowpages.com