As a result of the health care reform Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, a child may stay on a parent's health care plan until which age?

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), one significant provision allows children to remain on their parent's health insurance plan until the age of 26. This rule applies regardless of whether the child is financially dependent on the parent, living with them, or considered a student.

The intention behind this provision is to provide greater health coverage accessibility for young adults as they transition into the workforce or pursue education, often facing financial challenges. By allowing them to remain on their parent's plan, it reduces the burden of health care costs during a critical time in their lives when they may not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.

The other age options—25, 27, and 28—do not align with the established guidelines of the ACA. Thus, the age limit set at 26 is a key aspect of the health care reform aimed at enhancing coverage among young adults.