Health Insurance - Options For College Students
College is a time for students to work towards their goals, learn critical thinking skills, mature and learn more about life away from their parents.
However, it can also be dangerous for students to be so far away from home without health insurance coverage.
Accidents do not happen every day, but when they do, it is better to be prepared.
Luckily, students have far more options for insurance coverage than independent adults.
The first option any student should consider is remaining on his or her parent's health insurance plan.
Starting in September of 2010, dependent students will be able to stay on their parent's plan as long as they are under age 26 and are not eligible for coverage through their employers.
While this option is the least inexpensive because it does not require students or parents to consider adding coverage or getting a new plan altogether, it can have drawbacks.
If parents are on a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan, students may not be fully covered if they are going to school far from home.
Similarly, if parents are covered by a preferred provider organization, or PPO, students will have to make sure to get treatment from a network provider to get the best coverage.
Many schools also offer their own health insurance plans and may require health coverage for all students.
These plans are usually low-cost contracts with insurance companies and vary wildly in both rates and coverage.
Before purchasing insurance through the school, make sure to thoroughly research the rates and amount of coverage.
Some schools may offer different levels of coverage, from accident only to comprehensive.
It is worth the extra cost to make sure that students are covered for routine visits to the student health center as well as catastrophic situations.
Students may also choose to buy their own health insurance, but this is the most expensive, difficult option.
Students will need to contact an insurance broker to discuss their options and will have a full health evaluation before they are approved for coverage.
Those with pre-existing medical conditions may find themselves denied insurance outright or forced to suffer through a pre-existing condition exclusion period in which they are denied benefits for anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
Beginning in January of 2014, however, insurance can no longer be denied to people with pre-existing conditions.
Although this change is small consolation to students who need insurance right away, they may also be able to receive medical coverage through Medicaid or state insurance pools.
Students should strongly consider these options to protect their health in case of an accident, illness, or other emergency.
If you need assistance in locating particular coverages at a pre-determined price, we can help you save up to 50% on your health insurance monthly premium.
However, it can also be dangerous for students to be so far away from home without health insurance coverage.
Accidents do not happen every day, but when they do, it is better to be prepared.
Luckily, students have far more options for insurance coverage than independent adults.
The first option any student should consider is remaining on his or her parent's health insurance plan.
Starting in September of 2010, dependent students will be able to stay on their parent's plan as long as they are under age 26 and are not eligible for coverage through their employers.
While this option is the least inexpensive because it does not require students or parents to consider adding coverage or getting a new plan altogether, it can have drawbacks.
If parents are on a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan, students may not be fully covered if they are going to school far from home.
Similarly, if parents are covered by a preferred provider organization, or PPO, students will have to make sure to get treatment from a network provider to get the best coverage.
Many schools also offer their own health insurance plans and may require health coverage for all students.
These plans are usually low-cost contracts with insurance companies and vary wildly in both rates and coverage.
Before purchasing insurance through the school, make sure to thoroughly research the rates and amount of coverage.
Some schools may offer different levels of coverage, from accident only to comprehensive.
It is worth the extra cost to make sure that students are covered for routine visits to the student health center as well as catastrophic situations.
Students may also choose to buy their own health insurance, but this is the most expensive, difficult option.
Students will need to contact an insurance broker to discuss their options and will have a full health evaluation before they are approved for coverage.
Those with pre-existing medical conditions may find themselves denied insurance outright or forced to suffer through a pre-existing condition exclusion period in which they are denied benefits for anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
Beginning in January of 2014, however, insurance can no longer be denied to people with pre-existing conditions.
Although this change is small consolation to students who need insurance right away, they may also be able to receive medical coverage through Medicaid or state insurance pools.
Students should strongly consider these options to protect their health in case of an accident, illness, or other emergency.
If you need assistance in locating particular coverages at a pre-determined price, we can help you save up to 50% on your health insurance monthly premium.
