Can you put your girlfriend on your health insurance?

Asked by: Reva Shields  |  Last update: September 1, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (54 votes)

Dependents for health insurance plans typically include spouses, children, stepchildren, adopted children, and foster children. In some situations, you can add non-family members to a health insurance plan if they're a domestic partner, in a civil union, or financially dependent on the policyholder.

Can I cover my girlfriend on my health insurance?

If you are asking if two people who are not legally married but are girlfriend-boyfriend can be on the same health insurance policy, the answer is no. They would each have to buy an individual policy. Two married people cannot buy individual policies on the open market, or an Obamacare exchange policy.

Does my girlfriend count as a domestic partner?

There is no federal definition of ``domestic partner''. The definition changes from state to state and from company to company. Some companies require an official registration of the partnership from the state. Some states don't register domestic partners at all.

How to add an unmarried partner to health insurance?

Adding a domestic partner to your health insurance coverage follows a process akin to that of adding a spouse. You have the option to include partners during the initial enrollment, open enrollment period, or a special enrollment period triggered by a qualifying life event, such as the arrival of a new child.

Can my girlfriend be added to my insurance?

If you meet the state's established criteria, such as being at least 18 and not married to each other or another person, you can register as a domestic partnership and add your girlfriend to your health insurance.

can I put my girlfriend on my health insurance

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Can you add someone on insurance if you're not married?

Most insurers allow you to add a significant other, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, or domestic partner, to your car insurance policy if you live together. Depending on the insurer, a significant other can also add their vehicle to a joint policy if both cars are kept at the same permanent residence.

Is a domestic partner a dependent?

To qualify as a dependent, your partner must receive more than half of his or her support from you. If your partner is a dependent, you might also be eligible for other favorable tax treatment. If you think that your partner might be your dependent under federal law, consult a tax professional.

What states do not recognize domestic partnerships?

Some states, such as Florida, New York, and Texas, do not provide for domestic partnerships at the state level. However, exceptions do exist. The same is true in Florida, where state-wide provisions for registering domestic partnerships do not exist.

What is a non-qualified domestic partner?

Generally, non-registered domestic partners that may be eligible to enroll as dependents are two unmarried adults who have chosen to share one another's lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring but are not registered as domestic partners in California.

Can I buy health insurance for someone else?

It's possible to buy a policy and add another person to your coverage if that person is your spouse, your dependent, or your domestic partner, depending on where you live. If you want to buy a policy for another person and you won't be included on the plan, the specifics will depend on the circumstances.

Is a live-in girlfriend considered a spouse?

California Unmarried Couples Rights

There is no common law marriage in the State of California. This means that if two people live together, there is no statute that confers the rights of married couples upon them. There are situations also where a couple believes that they are married, but they are in fact, not.

How long does it take to be considered domestic partner?

Mutually responsible (fiscally and legally) for each other. In an intimate, committed relationship of at least six months' duration*

Does a girlfriend count as a partner?

Partners in committed relationships are also sometimes described as a "significant others" or simply "partner", especially if the individuals are cohabiting. "Girlfriend" and "partner" mean different things to different people and the distinctions between the terms are subjective.

Can I list my girlfriend as a dependant for health insurance?

Include an unmarried domestic partner only if you have a child together or you'll claim your partner as a tax dependent. Don't include people you just live with — unless they're a spouse, tax dependent, or covered by another exception in this chart.

What is the difference between a domestic partner and a spouse?

There are a few major differences between domestic partnership and marriage. Unlike married couples, domestic partners can't legally claim each other as “family.” This means they may not be able to claim the same familial rights as married couples, including the ability to adopt, depending on the state.

Can I add my girlfriend to my health insurance on Amazon?

After buying One Medical memberships on Amazon, you'll be prompted to create or log in to a One Medical account. You can then add children or invite adults, up to the number of memberships purchased. Each Amazon Prime account is limited to six One Medical memberships.

Does my girlfriend qualify as a domestic partner?

Is a girlfriend a domestic partner? Your girlfriend may qualify as your domestic partner if she meets the criteria set by your state or city. A domestic partner shares a long-term committed relationship, lives in the same house, and is financially interdependent.

Is it worth it to add a domestic partner to health insurance?

However, adding a domestic partner to your health-insurance plan could increase your income taxes based on whatever your employer contributes to the plan's overall cost (this is treated as “income” by the IRS).

Does IRS recognize domestic partners?

The IRS doesn't recognize registered domestic partnerships (RDPs) as marriages. Because of this, RDPs must file their federal and California tax returns using two separate accounts. If this applies to you, RDP couples must file a federal return as Single or Head of Household.

Why would a straight couple get a domestic partnership?

There are a variety of benefits that come along with getting a domestic partnership in California, such as having the option of not getting married, avoiding a marriage tax, being legally recognized as a couple, receiving health insurance, child rights, family rights, and more.

What states allow domestic partners on health insurance?

Connecticut and New Jersey recognize domestic partnerships statewide for any couples who meet the state requirements. In Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, domestic partnership health benefits are available to state employees.

What are the disadvantages of a domestic partnership?

Couples who are in a domestic partnership are not able to file their taxes jointly because they are not recognized as married by the federal government. There also is no guarantee that the partners will be able to receive healthcare from their partner's plans.

Can you remove a domestic partner from health insurance at any time?

Please keep in mind that you can add/remove your partner; however, you cannot change the health, dental or vision plans in which you are enrolled. Regardless of the date your partner was added or dropped, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums.

How do I claim my girlfriend as a dependent?

To qualify as a dependent, your partner must have lived with you for the entire calendar year and listed your home as their official residence for the full year. If your partner has gross income above a certain amount ($5,050 for tax year 2024), you can't claim that person as a dependent.

Is a domestic partner a boyfriend you live with?

The domestic partnership is a legal relationship between two people of the same or opposite sex who live together and share a domestic life, but are not married or joined by a civil union nor are blood relatives.