Can a 17-Year-Old Get Insurance on Their Own?

Individuals under 18, considered minors, face legal limitations when entering binding agreements, including insurance. Understanding these principles is key to how a 17-year-old might obtain coverage.

Legal Capacity for Insurance Contracts

Generally, individuals under 18 are considered minors and lack the full legal capacity to form binding contracts. Contracts entered into by a minor are typically “voidable” at the minor’s option, meaning the minor can disaffirm or cancel the agreement.

This voidability presents a significant challenge for insurance companies. Insurers are reluctant to issue policies directly to minors because the contract could be canceled at any time without penalty. This creates considerable financial risk for the insurer, as they would be obligated to provide coverage while the policyholder retains the right to nullify the agreement. Consequently, most insurance providers require a legally competent adult to be the primary policyholder for coverage involving a minor.

The purpose of this legal protection is to safeguard minors from entering disadvantageous agreements. While a minor’s contract is not automatically void, its voidable nature makes it impractical for standard business transactions like insurance sales. This framework explains why direct insurance acquisition by a 17-year-old is uncommon and often impossible.

Exceptions exist for “necessaries” like food or shelter, but insurance typically isn’t one. The overarching rule remains that a minor’s contract is voidable, reinforcing the need for adult involvement.

Common Insurance Needs for 17-Year-Olds

Seventeen-year-olds often have specific insurance needs, primarily driven by lifestyle factors such as driving. Auto insurance is a common requirement, especially for those who have obtained a driver’s license. Due to legal constraints, 17-year-olds are almost universally covered under a parent’s or guardian’s existing auto policy, listed as a driver, extending coverage to their driving activities.

Health insurance is another essential type of coverage for individuals of this age. Most 17-year-olds receive health coverage as dependents under a parent’s or legal guardian’s employer-sponsored plan or a private health insurance policy. Federal laws, such as the Affordable Care Act, generally permit young adults to remain on a parent’s plan until they turn 26, irrespective of their student status or whether they reside with their parents.

Life insurance, while less common for a 17-year-old to initiate independently, can be a consideration. If a life insurance policy is obtained for a minor, it is almost exclusively purchased by a parent or legal guardian. The adult typically serves as the policyholder and payer, with the minor named as the insured. These policies are often structured as whole life insurance, building cash value over time.

In all these scenarios, an adult acts as the primary policyholder. This approach bypasses the legal limitations of a minor’s capacity to contract directly with an insurance company, providing necessary protection through established adult-led arrangements.

Parental Involvement in Obtaining Insurance

Parental involvement is the primary pathway for a 17-year-old to obtain insurance coverage. A parent or legal guardian typically acts as the main policyholder, adding the 17-year-old to an existing policy or purchasing a new one. For auto insurance, the parent contacts their insurer to add the minor as a driver, providing information such as the 17-year-old’s driver’s license number, date of birth, and driving record details.

Similarly, for health insurance, parents typically enroll their 17-year-old as a dependent on their employer-sponsored or private plan. This process involves providing the minor’s name, date of birth, and sometimes a Social Security number to the plan administrator or insurer. The child’s coverage then falls under the terms and conditions of the parent’s policy, benefiting from the parent’s legal capacity to contract.

When a parent secures a life insurance policy for a 17-year-old, the parent initiates the application and becomes the policy owner. The minor is the insured, meaning the policy pays out upon the minor’s death, but the parent controls the policy, including premium payments and beneficiary designations. This arrangement requires the parent’s financial information and consent, often including a medical exam for the minor, depending on policy type and coverage amount. The parent’s signature on all application documents is essential.

Adding a 17-year-old to an existing policy typically involves updating household information with the insurer. This often leads to premium adjustments, especially for auto insurance, due to the increased risk of insuring a young driver. The parent receives all policy communications and is responsible for premium payments.

Specific Scenarios for Minor Insurance

While parental involvement is the norm, legal emancipation is an exception. This court process declares a minor legally an adult before age 18. An emancipated minor gains the legal capacity to enter contracts, including insurance, without parental consent. Emancipation criteria vary by jurisdiction but typically involve demonstrating financial independence and self-management.

Once emancipated, a 17-year-old can apply for insurance in their own name, meeting underwriting requirements like income or driving history. This status grants them adult contractual rights and responsibilities. However, emancipation is uncommon, requiring a formal court petition and approval, making it a distinct exception.

Some jurisdictions allow minors to consent to certain medical services, such as reproductive or mental health treatment, without parental consent. In these limited cases, a 17-year-old might access and be billed for specific services, interacting with health insurance providers for narrow purposes. This does not grant them general capacity to contract for a comprehensive health insurance policy, as these provisions are narrowly defined and do not extend to other insurance types.