As a parent you should not overlook a solid health plan for your college student. Among all the other support you give to your son or daughter, selecting a health plan should be high on your list of things to do. Often enough your own health plan will cover your children when they are 20 to 24 years old. Your college student usually has to qualify to be put on your health plan, such as financial dependency on you and long term enrollment which would consider them a full time student.
If you do not have a health plan that can be utilized for your child, the college he or she is attending will likely have some available for your selection. Some colleges include health care coverage as a mandatory part of enrollment. An added cost on enrollment is often needed to subscribe as part of the health care coverage, which will be an another burden on top of the tuition cost. If you are worried and cannot find any other option, you may need to justify the extra cost and obtain health coverage through the college in question.
You should always do your research by comparing the costs and benefits of each health plan, even if you already have a health plan and you’re thinking about including your son or daughter in it as they attend as a full time college student. Deductibles and copays will be something your child may need to pay if they desire to be independent from you, even if they are financially dependent on you. You should take into consideration what type of medical treatments are included in the plan, such as xrays, lab work, doctor visits, surgery and dental procedures.
Another thing to consider is if they’re covered on spring break and other holidays, since college kids tend to get in trouble at these times. No Matter what plan you select, you should make sure the plan is inside your budget and properly covers your college student, as they are obviously important. There may be certain plans available to part time college students, however these will vary greatly with costs and benefits. A good resource on college student health insurance plans is the American College Student Association located at http://acsa.com/. Members earn discounts and receive loads of information aimed specifically at all types of college students, from a reputable and well established association.
There are several ACSA endorsed student loan programs that can help you pay for health insurance for your college student. Financial aid for student tuition based on your son or daughter’s GPA and needs can help pad the burdening effects of paying for long term health insurance as well. There is lots of help available for obtaining health insurance and financial aid for students who aren’t covered by their parents, students who need temporary health plan coverage, grad students or students who are even married, and even international students who need coverage that complies with their visa requirements.
