Medical insurance for college students is an important part of the college experience in preparation for sickness and emergencies, and sometimes it must be an expense outside the family insurance plan. Many family plans provide medical insurance for students as long as they are full-time students in an accredited school, but some have a cut-off age of 18 or 19 years. In the event of the latter, coverage becomes another cost of a college education. Some schools offer excellent coverage, and students are required to either buy their policy or provide proof of other coverage. This coverage is designed for the student, but is also available for a spouse and children if the student is married. However, one cannot cover other family members with such a policy. In order to be automatically eligible for medical insurance for college students, one must be a full-time student in a degree-granting program. Part-time students are also allowed to enroll in a coverage program if their course of study is in a degree-granting program.
For those schools that do not offer such coverage, individual policies are available through several sources that can be found on the Internet. One's search for medical insurance for college students should be with companies in the state where the student is attending classes because requirements vary from one state to another. Coverage is important because chances for illness or injury are very real where populations are so dense. School infirmaries are equipped to take care of most minor problems, but doctors and hospitals in close proximity are necessary for more serious problems, and with today's health costs, medical insurance for students is a necessity. Even though God is faithful and will always provide, He also calls His people to be prepared for the worst. "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer" (Proverbs 30:25).
In addition to the usual healthcare provisions, student coverage can be written to cover maternity benefits for an extra charge, or benefits for psychiatric, substance abuse, mental illness, or alcohol and drug rehabilitation may be available. Preauthorization is usually required for hospitalization under a policy, which is likely the same as the family policy the student had before leaving home. Premiums for medical insurance for students are usually payable annually or semi-annually, and credit cards are an acceptable means of payment. Health insurance has become an absolute requirement for everyone in our society, and student coverage is part of the continuum before they reach the stage of life when they are working and providing coverage for their own families. The good news is, medical insurance for college students is readily available to fill the gap between family and self sufficiency.
For more information: http://www.christianet.com/healthinsurance
