Different Health Insurance Options for College Students

Everyone knows that health insurance can expensive. Yet, what happens when you get sick or have an accident? Rising medical costs can be crippling and can put you in debt for a long time. In most cases, having basic medical coverage will keep you protected from those costs by paying for the deductible. As a college student, obtaining adequate medical insurance can get a little tricky. Most college students already have enough of a financial burden, like tuition, books and housing costs. Yet, there are a number of options for college students to find affordable medical coverage that won't break the bank or put you further in debt. Here are a few different health insurance options for college students.

1. Most students - especially those students who find themselves eating cheap, unhealthy noodles every night for sustenance - will qualify for some sort of state sponsored medical coverage. This type of medical insurance is usually reserved for those lowest on the income bracket. For college students who are not totally financially independent and can't afford the high monthly health insurance fees, government supported or subsidized coverage is a great, affordable option.
2. If you are a college student and not totally independent, you can often put yourself on one or both of your parents' employer's health insurance plan. Most of these plans cover the children of the employed who are still dependents. This is a great option for students who can't afford the high monthly medical insurance fees.
3. And if a college student is financially independent and can't qualify for their parent's insurance plan, there are affordable options if you want to find your own plan. You can look online or find a broker that might be able to find the best plan that fits your budget. You can also apply for job that has excellent medical insurance. However, most jobs require you to work a certain number of hours before you can be covered. This can be difficult for college students who spend most of their time in school.
4. Also, most schools, like Ohio University and other great schools around the country, have their own insurance plans. If you are a regular student or have a certain amount of units, you can usually be qualified. Most schools will have a medical center that you can visit or call to learn more.

For a lot of college students, school is the first priority, but health is always one of the most important things to consider. Upon entering college, 1 in 4 students don't have insurance. Subsequently, 30% of colleges require that students have health insurance as part of their enrollment. While this is a great way to incentivize students to acquire health insurance, many of them can't afford it. This leaves a scenario that puts many young adults in an unnecessary and stressful predicament. Fortunately for many college students, from all walks of life, there are a lot of alternative options to acquire health care coverage that are affordable and convenient, leaving much more time to focus on a proper education.