A guide to finding insurance at 26‌

It was supposed to be easier than this.

When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, the goal was to help more Americans, including young people, get health insurance.

And, indeed, the establishment of online marketplaces and a broadening of the eligibility guidelines for Medicaid accomplished that.

But a provision in the law also states that young adults generally must leave their parents’ insurance plan by the time they turn 26.

Young adults looking for health insurance will likely benefit from talking with so-called navigators who work for the online marketplaces. But if you want to go it alone, here are some tips about shopping for a plan, based on the advice of policy experts and people who have spent hundreds of hours helping others navigate this unwieldy set-up.

Buckle up.