Student Health Plans & Other Options

• Purchase a student health plan: This is an easy and affordable way to get basic insurance coverage. If youre in college, check with your school to see if they offer coverage.
• Stay on your parents plan: You may be able to stay on or get added to your parents health plan until you turn 26.
• Buy a Catastrophic health plan, if you qualify: If youre under 30 and eligible to enroll in Marketplace coverage right now, you can buy a Catastrophic health plan to protect yourself from the high costs of an accident or serious illness. Youll pay most routine medical expenses yourself.

Coverage For Students In Eap

• Students pay for coverage two months at a time and have the option to purchase coverage between EAP terms and the start of a post-secondary program.
• For example, if your EAP term starts in September and ends in October, you have coverage for the entire month of September and October.
• Note: You have the option to purchase coverage from Morcare within three business days of the end of your EAP term, if you are returning to Fanshawe for a post-secondary program. Please email to make this request. Coverage should be purchased for gaps in studies between EAP and post-secondary programs if you remain in Canada.

How Obamacare Has Improved Students’ Health Coverage Options Plus 5 Considerations When Seeking Coverage For New Graduates

• Health insurance & health reform authority

Before Obamacare, coverage for students tended to be hit or miss. Eligibility to remain on a parents health plan was often contingent upon being enrolled in school full-time, and the cut-off age was typically 22 unless a state had its own provisions for older students to remain on a parents health plan .

University-sponsored health plans were widely available, but tended to have shockingly low benefit maximums. Individual health insurance was medically underwritten, creating a significant hurdle for students with pre-existing conditions. And even healthy students sometimes struggled to afford the premiums.

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How We Chose The Best Health Insurance For College Students

To identify the best health insurance for college students, we looked at multiple options, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace plans, school-offered insurance, short-term policies, and insurance offered by private companies. In total, we looked at 17 different options and evaluated them based on their total annual cost, availability, provider network, and financial stability rating. Because college students are typically on a tight budget, particular attention was paid to plans that offered low premiums and comprehensive coverage.

You Should Know: Changes To The Aca

• Though the Affordable Care Act is still law as of this writing, some changes have taken place since its implementation. One of the biggest aspects of the Affordable Care Act was the requirement that everyone obtains health insurance or pays a fee, called the Individual Shared Responsibility Payment . But starting with the 2019 calendar year, individuals who choose not to obtain health insurance coverage no longer have to pay this fee.
• Another key change is that in earlier years, applicants had until January or February of the new year to sign up for coverage. But for the 2019 calendar year, open enrollment ends on December 15.

To learn about additional changes which may occur, refer to healthcare.gov for the most current information.

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Student Health Insurance Facts

• Everybodys doing it more than 1 million students have student health insurance coverage
• All grown up health insurance for students now includes prescription plans, higher coverage levels, and free preventative care
• Over half of all colleges and universities offer health insurance for college students
• 20% of college students have no health insurance

Can Someone Claim You As A Dependent

In general, a parent or guardian can claim you as a dependent under two conditions:

• If youre under age 19, or
• If youre a full-time student under age 24 and live with your parents when youre not at school.2

Keep in mind if someone can claim you as a dependent, you wont be eligible for federal subsidies no matter how much money you make. This rule applies if you purchase an individual plan through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace.3

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What Is Health Insurance For Students

With health insurance, you pay a company a monthly sumyour premium. In return, the company agrees to cover a percentage of your health care costs, such as doctor visits, prescription medications, or hospital stays.

A common myth is that college students dont need health insurance because theyre young and generally healthy. But one in six young adults has a chronic health condition, and nearly half of young adults report problems affording their medical bills. Getting health coverage is an essential safeguard for your finances.

As a college student, you have the following insurance options:

• Insurance through your parents: If you are under the age of 26, you can join your parents health insurance plan.
• School-offered coverage: Many colleges offer insurance plans for incoming students.
• Insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace: You can enroll in an insurance plan on Healthcare.gov. Depending on your income, you may qualify for subsidies that make coverage more affordable, or you can purchase an inexpensive catastrophic plan.
• Medicaid: Depending on your income and location, you may be eligible for Medicaid, the federal insurance program for low-income individuals. You can apply for coverage through your state Medicaid agency.
• Private plans: You may also opt for an insurance plan offered by a private insurance company. These plans may or may not meet the requirements of the ACA, but can provide coverage against major accidents or illnesses.

How Do I Get Health Insurance In College

College students can get health insurance in the following ways:

• Stay on a parent/guardian’s plan if they are under the age of 26
• Apply for their own private health insurance plan
• Apply for a short-term health insurance plan
• Sign up for a school-sponsored health insurance plan

Many students opt to stay on a parent’s plan or enroll in their own individual health insurance plan rather than selecting a school-sponsored plan. Applying for your own major medical or short-term health insurance plan will generally ensure you have the most flexibility and can still use your coverage when away from campus or your parent.

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Busting 5 Health Insurance Myths

Since health insurance can be complicated, there are many myths associated with it. The following are some of those myths and the truth that students and recent graduates should know.

Myth:Im young and healthy. I dont need insurance.

Busted:

Students who are young and healthy today may believe they dont need health insurance. However, there is no guarantee that anyone wont develop an illness and need treatment, or get into an accident that requires care. As a result, its important for young people to get insurance in case they end up needing health care services that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

Myth:The Affordable Care Act has been completely repealed.

Busted:

This is false. However, there have been changes made to the legislation since the current administration took power. For example, people are no longer subject to tax penalties for not having insurance. Although college students and recent grads can currently get coverage through the Affordable Care Act, its important for them to keep up with whats going on in case further changes are made.

Myth:If I have a pre-existing condition, Im out of luck.

Busted:

Under the Affordable Care Act, people cannot be turned down for insurance because they have a pre-existing condition. In addition, insurance companies are prohibited from charging these patients more or denying an insurance claim because of their pre-existing condition.

Myth:The best insurance is always through work.

Busted:

Busted:

Best For Budget: Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente

Why We Chose It: Kaiser Permanente is our overall budget choice because of its excellent ratings and industry strength coupled with economic coverage against worse case scenarios for low-income students.

• Coordinated insurance and health care

• Virtual care available

• The policyholder must use Kaiser facilities

• Coverage limited to eight states and the District of Columbia

Health industry leader Kaiser Permanente provides insurance solutions for college students with financial restrictions through its catastrophic plans. Kaiser took our top budget place with low monthly premiums and a range of no-fee covered services such as preventative care.

Non-profit Kaiser Permanente is a managed care organization with a network of 39 hospitals and 727 medical offices. Once you join a Kaiser plan, you can in some cases visit in-network specialists without a referral.

Students can get quotes online for catastrophic, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum policies. These plans have no exclusion for health conditions and are available to all ages, as they are ACA compliant. Some students may even qualify for government subsidies based on household income. These only apply to silver tier plans and above. With a discounted premium, the more comprehensive coverage could work out cheaper.

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What Mistakes Do College Students Make When Obtaining Insurance And How Can They Be Avoided

One mistake is thinking they do not have coverage. Many students will be automatically enrolled in a SHIP plan through their college or university and have access to the schools health care providers.

Another mistake is not using the health plan that they do have. Students, like everyone else, should get yearly checkups and not think of insurance as something they use only when they are sick. Many preventive services are free.

Health And Dental Information

• Tax Clinic

Students are automatically covered on a semester basis for benefits if they are a daytime student registered in a Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities approved full-time, post-secondary or post-diploma program and have paid your insurance premiums in full. Coverage begins on the first day of the semester and is only in effect while you are attending daytime classes.The following benefits are available to you under your Group Insurance Plan.

• Accidental Benefits
• Dental Benefits
• Extended Health Care Benefits

For complete details, please refer to the information brochure available at your local SSF office. The benefits are subject to all conditions, limitations, exclusions and other terms outlined in the Master Group Insurance Policy.

Opt-out or make changes to the planTo opt out of the health benefits or opt-in dependent family members:

Opt-out/Opt-in Deadlines

• Fall 2021 semester: October 1, 2021
• Winter 2022 semester: February 4, 2022
• Summer 2022 semester: June 3, 2022

Proof of other private insurance plan is required to opt-out. Starting September 1st, 2021, opt-out refunds will be provided only by direct deposit.

If you drop-out or leave for any reason, the coverage is automatically terminated. Students that attend Seneca College for only one semester, they will receive benefits for that semester only.

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How Aca Changed Student Health Coverage

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, a lot has changed for studentshealth insurance coverage options:

Low annual and lifetime benefit maximums used to be standard on student health plans. That typically worked out, because most students are young and healthy. But it sometimes resulted in disastrous outcomes, as we saw in the highly-publicized and tragic death of Arijit Guha, an Arizona State University student whose cancer treatment maxed out his student health plan.

While the new, reformed student health plans offered by universities are dramatically better than they were in the past, its also true that the new plans cost more than the old ones. Prior to the ACA, some student health plans had benefit caps as low as $5,000, but only cost a few hundred dollars a year in premiums. Given the cost of healthcare, those plans were not functioning as real insurance, but rather as pre-paid health plans for relatively minor ailments.

The Cheapest Health Insurance For College Students

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Are you a college student looking for inexpensive health insurance options?

Maybe you’re going off to college for the first time, or maybe you’re an older student who no longer gets healthcare under your parent’s insurance?

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Will You Attend School In State Or Out Of State

If you live in North Carolina, you shouldnt have a problem finding a doctor who accepts your existing insurance plan. But if you come from out of state, its important to find out if there are providers near your school that accept your current health insurance. If you see a healthcare provider or go to a hospital that doesnt accept your health insurance, you might get stuck owing the whole bill even though you have coverage.

Going Out of State for School?

If you attend college out of state, find out if doctors near your school that accept your current health insurance

Best Overall: Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Why We Chose It: For students looking for expansive countrywide and international coverage, range of coverage options, and low-cost premiums, Blue Cross Blue Shield was an easy pick for our best overall category.

• Teams with various states and schools to offer plans for students

• Expansive network providers

• Available in all 50 states and internationally

• Range of extra benefits

• Some plans dont include prescription drug coverage

• Finding information on the many BCBS websites can be difficult

More than 110 million people countrywide rely on The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for healthcare coverage. Thanks to its student-specific plans, low-cost insurance options, range of benefits, and reward system, BCBSA was an obvious choice for our best overall pick.

The BCBSA comprises 35 independent entities, most of which have an AM Best financial strength rating of A . Youll be directed to your local provider when you input your ZIP code to the BCBSA website.

Depending on your location, you can choose from tiers of coverage from catastrophic through to fully comprehensive platinum. You can also customize plans with dental and vision insurance.

Catastrophic coverage has lower monthly premiums, but higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum. The coverage doesnt max out. People of any age can join the bronze through platinum plans, but you must be under 30 to enroll in a catastrophic policy.

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What Are The Most Important Things That Students Should Keep In Mind When Getting Insurance

They should keep in mind that they are required to have coverage, have many options for obtaining coverage, and should use any the free services offered to them.

If buying a plan, think about your monthly premium and your out-of-pocket expenses. Your premium is the amount you pay for insurance every month and your out-of-pocket is the amount you have to pay when you go to see your doctor, caregiver, or go to the hospital. Often the higher the premium, the lower the out-of-pocket costs you have and vice versa. Think about how often you use care or the cost of prescription drugs you will be taking and pick a plan that covers your needs.

When using care, check if the provider you are seeing accepts your insurance. There is a price difference between in-network and out-of -network health care providers. If the doctor, hospital, or health care facility you visit is part of your insurance companys network, you will get your health care at lower prices.

Can We Buy A Campus Health Plan In Addition To Our Family Health Insurance Plan

If your student is covered by a college plan as well as another health plan, the campus plan will typically pay first for any care needed by the student, with the other plan paying as secondary coverage, said Ms. Marks of Academic HealthPlans.

Families with high-deductible plans that are paired with tax-favored health savings accounts usually need to be cautious about layering on other health coverage. Thats because families generally cant have other health insurance if they want to reap the tax benefits of an H.S.A., including tax-free contributions and withdrawals that are also tax-free when spent on eligible medical care.

But since the campus plan would cover only the student, it wouldnt disqualify her parents from contributing to an H.S.A., said William G. Stuart, president of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters. If you are uncertain, it may be wise to consult a tax professional familiar with H.S.A.s.

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What Is Student Medicover

Student Medicover is a specialized health plan for international students studying in the United States. They’re usually required to have health insurance, like other students, but they aren’t eligible for some of the options that are available to Americans and their family’s coverage at home may not extend to the U.S.

Student Medicover may cover care at your college’s student health center as well as doctors and hospitals in the UnitedHealthcare Options PPO system.