College Student Health Insurance
Before you send a child off to college, make sure your child has health insurance. Medical coverage is important for college students, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Most colleges and universities require all students to have health insurance. Health plans are often offered by schools, but shop around in order to find the best value. You may even save money by keeping your current family health insurance plan.
Research your current medical plan, if you have one, to make sure that college students are covered. Different plans have varying cut-off ages for children ranging from 18-25.
The type of health plan you have is especially important if your child's college is far from home. If you have PPO health coverage, find doctors near the college who participate in your network - this will help ensure that more of the bill is covered by your health insurance company.
If you have an HMO, you may want to consider switching to a PPO because many HMO's only cover emergency visits outside the service area. In strict HMO's, a student may have to come home in order to receive medical care. Some HMO's however, have guest privileges that enable students to visit a different doctor near the student's college.
Another option is for your child to receive care from the school clinic. School clinics can often provide treatment for common ailments, but overnight facilities are rare on school campuses.
If you don't have family health insurance or school health insurance, many health insurance companies offer affordable student health insurance plans that are less expensive than a regular individual health insurance policy.
Student health insurance plans cost about $1000 per year, and about 30% of college students currently have this type of coverage. Many international students buy private student health insurance plans.
If you decide to purchase private student health insurance, consider getting a plan that covers at least $100,000 in medical expenses. And make sure you understand what is and isn't covered. Some things aren't covered, such as injuries resulting from mountain climbing, drinking alcohol or attempted suicide.
Whichever policy you select, make sure you carry your health insurance card with you.
Most colleges and universities require all students to have health insurance. Health plans are often offered by schools, but shop around in order to find the best value. You may even save money by keeping your current family health insurance plan.
Research your current medical plan, if you have one, to make sure that college students are covered. Different plans have varying cut-off ages for children ranging from 18-25.
The type of health plan you have is especially important if your child's college is far from home. If you have PPO health coverage, find doctors near the college who participate in your network - this will help ensure that more of the bill is covered by your health insurance company.
If you have an HMO, you may want to consider switching to a PPO because many HMO's only cover emergency visits outside the service area. In strict HMO's, a student may have to come home in order to receive medical care. Some HMO's however, have guest privileges that enable students to visit a different doctor near the student's college.
Another option is for your child to receive care from the school clinic. School clinics can often provide treatment for common ailments, but overnight facilities are rare on school campuses.
If you don't have family health insurance or school health insurance, many health insurance companies offer affordable student health insurance plans that are less expensive than a regular individual health insurance policy.
Student health insurance plans cost about $1000 per year, and about 30% of college students currently have this type of coverage. Many international students buy private student health insurance plans.
If you decide to purchase private student health insurance, consider getting a plan that covers at least $100,000 in medical expenses. And make sure you understand what is and isn't covered. Some things aren't covered, such as injuries resulting from mountain climbing, drinking alcohol or attempted suicide.
Whichever policy you select, make sure you carry your health insurance card with you.
