College Health Insurance Plan

When your high school education
is finally over, you will no doubt be
looking to enroll into college. Some
insurers allow dependent children to
remain on their parents' health
insurance plan for as long as they are
fulltime students but, in some cases,
- between the ages of 20-24 - that
coverage can cease, whatever their
student status. This can present a
problem if they are not working and
just strictly going to college. However,
many colleges do offer health
insurance plans. Whether or not one
of these insurance plans will be suitable
for you should take some deliberation.

College health insurance benefits can vary considerably from campus to campus. Although many people may think that they are free, this is not the case. Committees from each college meet up with insurance companies and design plans specific to each school. As a general rule, these plans are reasonably priced, and enrollees should have access to doctors and hospitals near the school.


While there is usually no charge for an office visit and routine checkups, the student will have to pay for lab work, physical therapy, X-rays, prescriptions, and procedures such as treatment for a wound. Other services that may be covered include mental health, well-child care, newborn and infant care, cholesterol screening, and routine STD/AIDS testing. Mammograms are usually covered when prescribed by a doctor.

Benefits will usually pay completely for covered services at the campus health center. In the event that you have to see an outside doctor then the student's coverage can drop to 70% and run the risk of being required to pay a high deductible.

If you have a pre-existing condition, such as asthma, then there could be a problem with getting treatment at the college health clinic. Having a pre-existing illness or disability does not mean that you will be disqualified from obtaining a college health insurance plan, but you may not be able to get treatment for that pre-existing illness. This can lead to difficulties if a new health problem arises that is a product of a pre-existing illness.

All health plans differ, so be sure to find out everything you can about the plan your college offers. Be sure to check if you or your child will be covered during summer break when students are not taking classes. This is important because you don't want to have an accident and find out that the insurance becomes inactive when they are not in class. Many colleges have coverage during summer break, but some do not.


Make sure you understand the plan fully. Is it an HMO, or can the member use any provider they want? This is just as important, because you want to know where you can go in the event of an emergency, and there is nothing worse than finding out after the fact that you will be stuck with paying the full amount for a medical bill.


There really is no definitive answer as to whether you should or shouldn't commit to getting college health insurance. Be sure that you understand the detail of your plan so that no problems can arise in the event of an emergency. While it is not free insurance, it surely will save you money in the event of an accident or illness.


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