<prompt> Human: My dad is filing taxes and wants to claim me as dependent because it will save him around 4000 he says. I applied as an independent for insurance through covered CA in the beginning of this year and received medi-cal. I think I was able to get medi-cal because I applied as an independent, but Im not sure. Also, I will be going to graduate school this year, which will cost around 36k per year for 3 years. Does anyone know how being claimed as a dependent as opposed to being independent would affect my financial aid through FASFA? Also, overall is it worth it for my dad to claim me as a dependent? Thank you!Other info: Our household income is 85k and I made 3k last year  <response>: The rules about whether he can claim you as a qualifying child or qualifying relative are in IRS Publication 17, chapter 3. For qualifying child -- youd have to be under age 24 and a full-time student in 2015, and not paying more than half the cost of your support, and youd have to have lived with him more than half the year.For qualifying relative -- you cant have earned over 4K in 2015 and he would have had to have provided more than half your support.It doesnt save him 4000. It allows him to remove 4000 from his income before it gets taxed. So it may save him 4000 his marginal tax bracket. ---I dont know what the eligibility rules are for Covered CA and Medi-Cal. I dont know if they allow you to simply say youre not a dependent, if in fact you can be claimed as a dependent.This document from Covered CA suggests you can get Covered CA and a marketplace plan if your parents do not claim you as a dependent. But Im not trusting that. I think in fact you cant use a marketplace plan and get premium subsidies if you can be claimed as a dependent but are not so claimed. Source: IRS So Id say that document is misleading.The above also may be completely irrelevant if what you have is Medi-Cal. If an adult is claimed as a tax dependent by their parents, will their parents income count towards the dependent adults income for eligibility?Yes. The adult who expects to be claimed as a tax dependent by hisher parents will have his parents income counted when determining income eligibility under the MAGI methodology. Federal regulatory reference is 42 CFR 435.603f2.That implies that if your dad claims you, household income will play a role in determining whether you are eligible for Medi-Cal. Again, this doesnt explicitly say what happens if your dad doesnt claim you but could. I guess the question that remains in my mind to research is: If I can be claimed as a dependent but am not so claimed by a parent, do I qualify for Medi-Cal because of my low income? You would need to find out that, if it turns out your father can claim you and you seek to stay on Medi-Cal. Edit: Because then you might say, Dad, though you are able to claim me, you shouldnt because it interferes with my eligibility for Medi-Cal based on my income.Edit: I read the single stream application for Covered California. It just asks if you are claimed as a dependent. It doesnt seem to mind if you could be claimed but arent. Interesting. 