Student Health Insurance: Not an Elective
With rising tuition and living costs, many students and their families may overlook an important item in their college education budgets: health insurance. A 2007 student college health survey carried out by the University of Minnesota revealed that 14.6% of students in their system lacked coverage. The largest concentrations of uninsured were among graduate students (26.2%) and international students (54.6%); this disparity is often due to eligibility of dependents under age 25 to maintain coverage under their parents’ plans.
Many students, especially if they are young and healthy, feel they can forgo student health insurance and rely their university’s health care services to meet their needs. They may pay a fee of around $300-$400 a semester to be eligible for routine medical care, immunizations, and mental health services. However, medical issues that require hospital care as well as facilities and doctors located off-campus may not be adequately covered. No student is completely safe from accidents or infectious diseases that could drive up their medical expenses.
How can matriculating students ensure that they won’t end up in the emergency room when they can afford it the least? Every college or university has different policies and resources concerning health insurance. The first step is to find out what the institution’s requirements are, in order to use them as a reference when comparing options for coverage. It is often the case that students that are enrolled in more than a certain amount of credit hours are required to have some sort of health insurance. Also, a student who does not indicate enrollment in a medical plan when filling out required registration paperwork may be automatically enrolled in and charged for the school’s medical insurance. Student athletes might be required to obtain specific coverage.
As previously mentioned, many students can remain on their parents’ existing health plan as long as they continue to be actively enrolled at their school. Otherwise, they can compare the school’s plan with outside options. Internet sites such as Health Insurance Finders or eHealthInsurance can provide links to available providers.
As in any type of health insurance, it is important to examine how premiums, deductibles, and prescriptions will affect the total costs. Other issues to consider when comparing plans include convenience for the student; would it be difficult to find a facility or doctor who accepts the outside insurance? Would it make more sense to take advantage of the easier access to the school’s health services, and what is the quality of those services? Also, does the plan cover graduate students as well as undergraduates? If students travel or participate in a program in another country, are they still covered?
Student health insurance may be another burden for students and families who are also grappling with financial assistance and other choices affecting the cost of their education. But it is an essential provision that must be made to ensure peace of mind and a healthy college experience.