“Insuring Your Health” consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers a reader’s question about keeping an under-26-year-old on a parent’s health plan. Much of the time, even if the child is financially independent and has a job with insurance, the young adult can stay on the family plan.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, certain existing group plans that are grandfathered under the health law are not required to accept an adult child if that child has an offer of insurance through his or her own job. But any group health plan has the option to cover adult children. That grandfathered exception will expire in 2014.

>> Related Story: Forget The Company Plan—The Boss Wants You On Dad’s Insurance