Family Health Insurance
Comprehensive Coverage for Wyoming & Utah Families
ACA family health plans cover everyone in your household — children, spouses, and dependents up to age 26. Subsidies are calculated based on household size, which means families often receive some of the largest premium tax credits. Jenkins Insurance & Retirement helps you navigate family coverage without missing a dollar of savings.
How It Works
Family plans on the ACA Marketplace
One ACA Marketplace plan can cover your entire family — spouses, children, and other dependents up to age 26. Everyone on the plan shares the same deductible (individual deductibles apply to each member; the family deductible limits total family spending).
Your premium tax credit is calculated based on your household income and household size. Larger families have higher income thresholds for subsidy eligibility, which means a family of five at $90,000/year may receive more subsidy than a single person at $50,000/year.
CHIP Option
When your children may qualify for CHIP instead
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but may struggle to afford private insurance.
In Wyoming and Utah, children may qualify for CHIP at incomes above where parents qualify for Marketplace subsidies. When children qualify for CHIP, it's often better to enroll them there and keep parents on a Marketplace plan — CHIP typically has lower out-of-pocket costs for kids.
| Factor | CHIP | Marketplace Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Children under 19 in qualifying income range | All ages; income 100–400%+ FPL |
| Premiums | Very low or $0 for lower incomes | Subsidized; varies by plan |
| Deductibles | Low or $0 | Varies by metal tier |
| Dental/vision | Included | Pediatric dental included; adult dental separate |
| Open enrollment | Year-round | Nov–Jan only (+ SEP) |
Understanding Costs
How family deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums work
Family plans have two deductible levels: individual and family. Each family member's spending counts toward their individual deductible AND the family deductible. Once the family deductible is reached, the insurer pays its share for the whole family — even if individual deductibles haven't been met.
For 2025, ACA plans cap family out-of-pocket maximums at $18,900 (double the individual limit of $9,450). After reaching the out-of-pocket maximum, covered services are paid 100% by insurance for the rest of the year.
Common Situations
Family coverage situations we help with
Self-employed family
When both parents are self-employed, we help estimate household income carefully (including business deductions) to maximize the family subsidy.
One employed parent
If one parent has employer coverage, we evaluate whether adding the family to employer coverage or purchasing a Marketplace plan is more cost-effective.
Mixed-status families
Families with some members eligible for Medicaid/CHIP and others not. We identify which members should be on which program for the best total coverage.
Growing families
Having a baby triggers a Special Enrollment Period. We handle mid-year additions efficiently to ensure no coverage gaps.
Kids turning 26
When a dependent child ages off your plan at 26, that triggers a SEP for them to find their own coverage. We help them transition smoothly.
Divorce and custody situations
When parents split, coverage for children needs to be carefully managed. We help determine who covers which children and what documentation is needed.
FAQ
Family plan questions answered
Do my children need their own deductible?
Each member of a family plan has an individual deductible. However, your spending also counts toward the family deductible. Once the family deductible is met, the insurer pays for everyone — even members who haven't hit their individual deductible.
Can I keep my kids on my plan if they get their own job?
Yes. Under the ACA, children can stay on a parent's plan until age 26 regardless of whether they're married, have their own job, or live with you. However, it's worth comparing the cost against their employer's coverage.
What if my spouse has employer coverage but I don't?
You can enroll independently in a Marketplace plan while your spouse stays on their employer plan. Your Marketplace eligibility depends on whether you're offered affordable coverage through the employer plan as a spouse.
Get the right family coverage
Family plan selection is complex — deductibles, CHIP eligibility, dependent ages, and household income all interact. We do the analysis and show you the total cost across every option.