Everyone deserves access to healthcare, and there are many people you love who you may want to protect with your own policy. Adding non-family members to health insurance is a common question, especially for people who live together who are close but not relatives.

When it comes to adding policy members, you can only add spouses or dependents. If you do not support the person who you want to cover, then they likely cannot be added to a policy. Generally speaking, the only people you can add to your health insurance are spouses, children, foster children, adopted children, or legal dependents. For example, if you financially support your grandchild, then you might be able to pay for their coverage.

If you are a caregiver to someone who is not a relative, such as a close friend or partner, then you will not be able to put them on your health insurance plan. We understand how frustrating this can be, especially for those who support other individuals part- or full-time.

Read on to learn more about options for helping someone who is not a family member receive coverage.

Can You Pay For Someone Else’s Health Insurance?

There is good news: you can buy health insurance in Florida for someone else. You will need to provide the policyholder’s consent. Each provider has their own rules over who you can buy coverage for and how payments work. A health insurance broker can help you explore all your options, but for now, let’s look more at some other choices that you may have available.

Adding a Domestic Partner to Your Policy

In some cases, you may be allowed to cover a partner on your own plan. This varies by provider. The process is similar to covering a spouse, but providers allow for greater coverage because they recognize many people live together without being legally married.

You may be required to provide proof of your domestic partnership through evidence of a living arrangement, proof of shared financial responsibilities, or a legal document called an affidavit of domestic partnership.

Registering as domestic partners in Florida can also grant you other rights, such as hospital visitation, emergency notification, and healthcare coverage options.

Group Plans

Some employer-sponsored health insurance allows you to add non-family members for coverage. These may be domestic partners or other dependents. The decision to add non-family-member coverage falls to each insurance provider. Speak with human resources at your company if you are interested in exploring this option.

Help Them Find a Government-Sponsored Plan

If the person you want to cover is not eligible to be on your own plan, you can help them look for health insurance through the Marketplace. If these are too costly, then you may help them explore Florida Medicaid, a type of subsidized health insurance that someone can apply for all year long.

Pros and Cons of Adding Non-Family Members to Your Health Insurance

Providing coverage to someone is a generous act, but it can come with some downsides. Namely, the increased monthly premiums, a higher deductible, and possibly lower overall coverage.

Adding someone to a plan can change its structure. You can add a spouse and other immediate family to an individual health insurance plan, but non-family members will likely only be covered under a family plan.

Family health insurance is more expensive because it covers more than one person. Increased premiums and healthcare costs could make providing someone else with coverage difficult. Consider whether you can afford the long-term investment, such as out-of-pocket expenses before you meet your deductible. If it is too expensive, you can consider helping your loved one find their own coverage, and possibly chipping in to help them pay for their own premiums.

Seek Professional Advice

We encourage you to reach out to a licensed health insurance broker in Florida if you are exploring adding someone else to your plan. We believe that everyone deserves access to affordable coverage — our vision, dental, life, health insurance, and small business coverage plans are as diverse as our customers.

Please contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find the best coverage for your needs. If you are seeking information for someone else, we can also provide suggestions and guide them toward the most affordable plan for their budget.