health article article

Looking for Student Health Insurance? Discover Your Options
By Jill Kane
Looking for Student Health Insurance? Discover Your Options

While it seems are numerous alternatives, there are only three basic types of student insurance policies. Medical expenses while in college can be covered by their parents' plan, the college plan or some commercial student plan. All of them have their own strong points as well as weaknesses, so choosing the right policy between them (or finding their right combination) can get quite difficult.

Before you start going into the details, remember why you need the insurance in the first place. Whatever you choose, make sure your children will (1) have access to medical care both while at the college and at home, (2) be insured against any sport-related injuries, (3) have at least basic eye and dental care secured and that (4) you will be able to take unexpected catastrophic medical expenses without going bankrupt. Below are short descriptions of the major student insurance categories. Keep in mind though that the specific offers within the same category can vary greatly.

Parents' plan
Advantages: A college student can be covered as a dependant by his/her parents' plan. There are three strong points with this plan - no enrollment action is required, it is inexpensive and the parents' plan

usually gives a student relatively good coverage - at home. What's more, there is no problem in treating preexistent problems.

Disadvantages: However, parents' plan isn't an ideal solution. Unless a student studies near his/her home, it is very probable that the access to medical facilities will be limited or none at all. What's worse, student insurance acquired via the parents' plan often ends when the student reaches 21 or 23, even if they haven't graduated yet. And, last but not least, the parents' policy doesn't usually offer any coverage outside of the U.S.

College plan
Advantages: Most colleges offer their own, campus-based student insurance programs. They offer excellent on-campus access to routine care and give enrolled students a chance to receive a limited treatment of preexisting problems. Another strong point is their low price.

Disadvantages: All the pros come with some cons as well: these plans offer very limited (if any) access to medical care outside the campus. The referral is required for every major treatment and, what's the worst, student insurance policies prepared by the college have limited maximum coverage, making them inadequate for coping with any catastrophic medical expenses.

Commercial student plan
Advantages: These plans are probably the best in terms of maximum coverage and medical care accessibility. They offer nation-wide coverage with virtually every medical provider becoming available. They are also the most flexible - the payment can de done on month-to-month (or even day-to-day) basis, but without a fear that they end while you'll still need them.

Disadvantages: The major disadvantage of commercial student insurance policies is their price. Actually, they can get extremely expensive. Another problem is that most of them do not cover eye or dental care, which normally would be covered by the parents' plan.
For more information on insurance or obtaining free insurance quotes, visit http://www.1st-insurance-shop.com

We strive to provide only quality articles, so if there is a specific topic related to health that you would like us to cover, please contact us at any time.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our health article website.

Additional Related Resources

Acne Home Treatment 101
By Jaynne Nicols
Acne is truly one serious worry of most teenagers and young adults as well in every part of the country. It’s certainly an obstacle to fully enjoy what life offers during your youthful years. It Read more...

What to Do When You have Acne: the Acne Treatment just for YOU
By Jaynne Nicols
Acne, acne, acne. We all dread having it. It can be called the bane of one’s existence, the enemy of our social lives. Unfortunately, it can’t be avoided. Whether you are Caucasian, Asian or Read more...

Cancer Prevention
By Jemma Harlise
Cancer, the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body, is not one single disease but instead a group of diseases. Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Americans; Read more...

Acne 101
By Jaynne Nicols
It is the bane of a person’s existence. Everybody gets it; everybody hates it. And once you have it, prepare to be tormented, embarrassed and humiliated. Such a small bump, so much at stake. Read more...