US Medical Term · insurance
Dependent
Dependiente
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Dependent |
| Spanish (Español) | Dependiente |
| Chinese (中文) | 被抚养人 |
| Korean (한국어) | 피부양자 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Người phụ thuộc |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Umaasa |
| Portuguese (Português) | Dependente |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ผู้อยู่ในอุปการะ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 被扶養者 |
What it means
A dependent is a family member listed on your health insurance policy who receives coverage through your plan rather than their own. Typically this includes spouses, domestic partners, and children under age 26—even if married, living separately, or not enrolled in school. Some plans extend dependent status to disabled adult children beyond age 26 if the disability began before that age. Grandchildren, nieces, and other relatives generally do not qualify unless they are legal tax dependents. Adding or removing a dependent usually triggers a special enrollment period. Your employer or Marketplace plan requires supporting documents, such as a birth certificate or marriage license, to verify the relationship before coverage begins.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
Your spouse and children under 26 can be added as dependents on your employer health plan.
Su cónyuge e hijos menores de 26 años pueden ser inscritos como dependientes en el plan de salud de su empleador.
To add a newborn as a dependent, notify your insurer within 30 days of the birth.
Para agregar a un recién nacido como dependiente, notifique a su aseguradora dentro de los 30 días posteriores al nacimiento.
The explanation of benefits will list each dependent's claims separately under your policy.
La explicación de beneficios mostrará los reclamos de cada dependiente por separado bajo su póliza.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026