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College Health
Insurance Needs | |
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As
the fall semester approaches, college students and their parents should
think carefully about the students' ongoing health insurance needs. A
serious illness or injury could lead to catastrophic consequences for a
college student without health insurance. Coverage
Through a Parent's Health Insurance Policy The good news is that most health insurance
policies cover dependents, who are full-time students, until the age of
23. Individual policies differ, so check with your health insurer about
how the policy defines a full-time student and the maximum age of
coverage. Most policies consider a student taking at least 12 credit hours
per semester (6 or 9 in the summer) to be a full-time student. However,
college students who marry will lose their status as a dependent under
their parents' policy regardless of their age or status as a full-time
student. It is also important to know the difference
between how a college student not living at home can obtain coverage
through a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or a Preferred Provider
Organization (PPO). For example, a student insured through an HMO may be
outside the HMO service area of physicians and hospitals while away at
school. If this occurs, the student likely will have coverage for
emergency care, but may have to travel to a physician and hospital within
the HMO service area for other care. Similarly, an insurer may pay
benefits at out-of-network levels for students who are outside a PPO
network. Check your plan provisions or speak with your insurer to know the
level of benefits provided when a student is away at school and outside
the service area. Be sure the college student has a copy of
the relevant insurance cards and knows how to obtain any required
approvals before seeking treatment. |
Student Health Insurance
Plans Students who don't have health
insurance through a parent's health insurance policy, or who have limited
coverage due to network service areas, may buy a student health insurance
plan. Student plans are sold by an insurer that has contracted with a
college to offer coverage to its students. In general, these plans have
more limited benefits and more exclusions than traditional health
insurance plans. For example, most student plans have limited catastrophic
coverage of $50,000 per accident or illness. Many policies also will
exclude routine examinations and injuries sustained while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs. Dental
and Eye Care Routine
dental care and eye care generally aren't included as part of a health
insurance plan, although many will cover non-cosmetic dental work that is
medically necessary due to an accident. In addition, some plans may
include limited coverage for dental procedures, such as the removal of
wisdom teeth, if performed in a hospital. Finally, most health insurance
plans do not cover expenses related to periodic eye examinations, glasses
or contact lenses. But, most health insurance plans do cover medical care
as a result of an eye disease or injury.
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The National Association of
Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org) is a voluntary organization of the
chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District
of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The overriding objectives of state
regulators are to protect consumers and help maintain the financial
stability of the insurance industry. For more consumer information visit InsureUonline.org. |
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