Health insurance probably isn’t among the top concerns for most college students, but health insurance is critical during college years because students are in close proximity to each other and are likely to become ill. Some colleges and universities in the U.S. even require their students to have health insurance. Here are a few tips for college students who need to find health insurance coverage.
Use Your Parents’ Insurance
Recent legislation has allowed many students to be covered under their parents’ health insurance plans until they reach the age of 26. This coverage is a great option for students who are eligible, but they may have trouble finding doctors who are part of their insurance network if they are attending college in another state. Some parents may also require their students to pay part of the premium to be covered under their plan.
College Health Insurance
At least 50 percent of the colleges in the U.S. offer health insurance plans to students who are taking classes at their school. These plans often come with low premiums and are very convenient for students. The problem that some people have with health insurance through their school is that their plan may have a coverage cap that is very low. It is important to read the fine print before signing up for a college health insurance plan so that there are no surprises for students who get injured very badly or become ill enough to require extended care. Collge health insurance is designed to cover small medical expenses such as medication and immunizations but they are often lacking in catastrophic coverage.
Individual Health Insurance Plans
Individual health insurance plans are an option for anyone who is at least 18 years old. These plans usually cover much more than college health insurance plans and the premiums typically aren’t much more expensive than school insurance plans. Another benefit of individual insurance plans is that coverage can be maintained if the student switches schools and after they graduate. Students may have to pay higher co-pays than they would with typical health insurance plans offered by colleges, but their coverage levels will also be increased and individual health plans generally have a wide range of doctors and hospitals covered in their network. All students should note that health insurance companies are not required to cover medical expenses related to chronic conditions until new legislation goes into effect in 2014.