By the time your children toss their high school graduation caps into the air, they'll probably have applied to college, picked a dorm, and mapped out their freshman courses. But is their health insurance securely in place?
Often, the medical plan a parent has through work will cover children up until they're between 20 and 24 years old, whether they live at home or away at school. However, because college health plans at some schools are subsidized by tuition (though not necessarily subsidized for the student's spouse or dependents), college plans might save parents money. If you don't have any health insurance for the student, college health plans could be a good solution.
College plans are not free and the benefits vary from college to college. Committees from each college meet with insurance companies and design plans specific to their schools.
College plans sometimes limit preventive care, but students often can go to the college health center for free services. Many times there's no charge for office visits to the health center, although students may be charged for lab work, physical therapy, X-rays, prescriptions, and procedures such as treatment for a wound. Other covered services may include mental health, well-child care, newborn and infant care, routine pap and pelvic exams, cholesterol screening, and routine STD/AIDS testing. Mammograms are usually covered when prescribed by a doctor.
Typically, benefits will pay 100 percent for covered services at the college health center. For coverage outside the health center, including out-of-state providers, a student's coverage may drop to 70 percent and impose a deductible.
In addition, state laws play a significant role in the policies offered to students, as well as market factors. As a result, there's a wide range of premiums and benefits that vary from college to college.
Pre-existing conditions can create problems
Your state may allow "blanket disability" products to bar pre-existing conditions even if the state won't allow the exclusion on "group disability" products. This means insurance companies can exclude pre-existing conditions from treatment. So before you sign up for a college health plan, make sure you know whether the plan is a blanket disability product that won't cover treatment for your asthma or any other pre-existing condition.
People often buy a college's health insurance, even when the student is covered under another plan, because of the problem of obtaining referrals across states. (Many HMOs require referrals for visits to out-of-network providers.) Parents who want their children to get prompt care without calling home for a physician's referral might want to consider college health plans.
Cost and the problem of referrals shouldn't prevent the student from having health insurance, whether it's their parent's plan or the school's plan. A serious illness or injury could have long-lasting negative financial consequences for the student, the parent, or both.
Put a college health policy to the test
Several factors can make a crucial difference in timely care. Be sure to find out:
- Is the plan an HMO, or can the student use any provider?
- Does the plan cover emergency room visits without prior approval?
- What steps must be taken to ensure coverage if there's an emergency?
- What about coverage on the student's vacation?
- Can the student get coverage during the summer break even if they're not taking classes?
- Does the plan make the most efficient treatment facilities in the college community accessible?
- What services are offered free or at low cost in a campus health clinic?
- What pre-existing conditions are excluded?
Related Article:
List of Free Online Health Insurance Quote:
UK Travel Insurance