Student Health Insurance: Is Your Child Covered?
Watching your children fly from the nest is not an easy thing.
Watching them stumble and fall in their quest for independence
is even more difficult.
According to experts, at least 30 percent of young adults over
the age of 19 have no health insurance. This puts their
education and financial future at risk--and limits their chances
of succeeding on their own.
So what can you, a seemingly helpless parent, do to help insure
your college-bound student succeeds and thrives?
The Obvious Solution
The most obvious answer is student health insurance. When your
children leave home, student health coverage can provide them
the financial protection they need for those unexpected times of
illness.
It picks up where you leave off by covering health and medical
expenses during a vulnerable, transitional time in their lives.
And it's a great way to keep your children sheltered when they
need it most--in your absence.
In fact, young persons covered by student health insurance
policies don't have to worry whether their insurance will pay
for needed doctor visits or prescriptions; and they don't have
to scramble to find a way to pay for health care when they're
ill. They simply pick up the phone and call their doctor; grab
their insurance card and go.
That brings a lot of security and peace of mind&mdashto parents
and children alike.
The Options
If you're looking for health insurance coverage for your
newly-independent student, you'll find several options
available.
Family Health Plan Coverage
If you have a "major medical" or individual health plan
purchased on your own, your child should be covered under your
plan until the age of 19. Some states have increased this age
limit to 25, as long as your child stays unmarried; attends
school full-time; remains financially dependent and lives at
home.
If, however, you're covered under an HMO (health maintenance
organization), your child's medical care is normally covered
only within your own health service area (except in the case of
emergencies). If your child attends school outside this region,
routine medical visits and procedures may not be covered.
If you're considering keeping your student on your own health
policy, talk to your insurance provider to make sure coverage is
available where your child will live. If so, the insurer can
help your student find a doctor in the appropriate area; tell
you what services are covered, and let you know their
approximate cost.
University-Sponsored Health Insurance
Nearly all educational institutions now offer school-funded
student health insurance policies. Prices are generally
reasonable, costing less than $100 per month for a single
student and around $200 for a married couple.
If your child receives financial aid or scholarship monies, most
school-funded plans allow him or her to use these means to help
pay for health insurance coverage. This provides a way for some
students and their parents, who could otherwise not afford
health care, to maintain much-needed coverage.
Individual Health Plans
If neither a family plan nor school-sponsored plan is
available, your child should strongly consider purchasing an
individual health policy of his or her own.
Although individual health insurance plans can be expensive,
many insurers offer discounts to full-time students.
Insurance shopping services like InsureMe.com can help your
student find an individual health policy at an affordable price.
You'll find them online at insureme.com.
American College Student Association (ACSA) Health
Coverage
Another option unknown to many students and their parents is
coverage through the ACSA. This organization offers health
insurance, short-term insurance, study abroad coverage and
dental insurance to students at any college or university.
If your student needs health coverage for the short term, ACSA
health coverage may be just the ticket. Depending on the term
selected, this type of policy may last from three months up to a
year.
To contact the ACSA, call (888) 526-2272.
Making the Right Choice
Finding affordable student
health insurance at a great price isn't always easy. But
there's almost nothing as important when your children
transition from home to school.
By spending time analyzing the options, you can make the right
choice for your students--and keep them healthy and happy for
years to come!
_________________________________________________________________
__ About InsureMe
InsureMe, an Englewood, Colorado-based company, links agents
nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing
in auto, home, life, long-term care and health insurance quotes,
the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with health insurance leads
every year. For more information, visit insureme.com.