 By the time your children toss their high school graduation caps into the air, they'll probably have already secured the college they will visit, their dorm room, and have their freshman year courses all picked out…But is their health insurance as securely in place as the rest of these issues?
Usually a parent's medical plan will cover their children until they're 24 years old. It will be a good idea to look into what college health plans are provided at your child's university, if your health insurance plan does not cover college students.
College health insurance plans may be subsidized by tuition at some schools, though not subsidized by the student's spouses or dependents, and may ultimately save parents money. College health insurance plans are not free, and the advantageous may range from college to college. Health insurance companies meet with committees from various schools to design a plan, specifically made for school's students. Sometimes, the health insurance plans may limit preventative care, but free services may be provided at the health center.
Usually there's no charge for office visits, but students may be charged for lab work, x-rays, physical therapy, prescriptions, and procedures such as treatment for a wound. Other services that may be covered include mental health, well-child care, newborn and infant care, routine pap and pelvic exams, routine AIDS/STD testing, as well as cholesterol screenings. Normally, benefits will pay 100% for covered services at the college health center, but for coverage outside, a deductible may be required and coverage could drop to 70%. It should be noted that premiums and advantages change from college to college, due to state laws and marketing factors.
Pre-existing conditions can create problems
In some states, pre-existing conditions can be eliminated from treatment by health insurance companies. This is called "blanket disability." For instance, under this law, health insurance companies won't cover asthma or any other pre-existing conditions that your college student may have. This is possible even if the state won't allow the exclusion on "group disability" products.
Many HMOs require referrals for visits to out-of-network providers. If your child selects a college out of state, and you want them to get prompt medical care without having to call home for a physician's referral, it is recommended to take into account the college health plan provided by their school.
Several factors can make a critical difference in timely care. Be sure to know about:
• Can the student use any provider, or is the plan an HMO?
• Is prior approval required for emergency room visits?
• What steps need to be taken in the event of an emergency?
• What kind of coverage do students have if they are on vacation?
• If the student is not enrolled in classes (during summer or winter break) do they still have health insurance coverage?
• Are the most effective treatment facilities at the college easily accessible?
• What are the low-cost or free services that are provided through the campus health clinic?
• Are any pre-existing conditions included
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