It does decline, but I think the 27 years is meant to include College, finding a job, a mate, a home - i.e. "launched" and independent. 27 seems to be a somewh

It does decline, but I think the 27 years is meant to include College, finding a job, a mate, a home - i.e. "launched" and independent. 27 seems to be a somewhat arbitrary number as is my list of "launched" criteria, but in the US kids can no longer be on their parents health-care plans after age 26. That's a significant milestone for many.