As you get excited with the fact that you, too, now have a college student as a son or daughter, have you ensured they have adequate health insurance? This is especially so if your health insurance plan does NOT provide coverage for your college kid. Which health insurance plan is best? Are there important details to ensure are in place while getting a new plan?
1. What are policy terms for emergencies? What would happen if your kid has an emergency? Would there be need for a prior approval? What are the conditions for certain benefits to kick in? Will you have to be consulted for approval before action is taken? Remember, they’ll NOT have you around them (They’re now adults — Aren’t they?).
Swift actions can be the difference between fatalities and minor issues. Therefore, double-check the fine print and ensure that it’s satisfactory before signing the dotted lines.
2. What’s the flexibility in the use of health care providers and facilities? Which do you prefer: An EPO, PPO, HMO or a policy that gives your wider options? Do you know which would serve your best interests: HMO, PPO, EPO or something else? It’s very important to be aware of the implications of choosing a given type with respect to quality of health care delivery.
3. What changes when your kid comes home on vacation, if any? Will there be a continuation of coverage at such a time? Would such coverage be adequate and would you need to have plans for contigencies?
4. What happens if a student has classes during the breaks? Does this plan give coverage at such times? Do you feel comfortable with the made?
5. What if your kid has pre-existing conditions? Well, overlook this if your kid has no such condition.
The more prone to illness your kid is, the more you must be willing to pay albeit more to ensure they get the very best health care while they’re away. It’s an achievement to be able to send your child to college. But more importantly, it’s a greater thing to have them go through it in good health.
Is there any way to save?
To save money without putting your beloved child at risk, take some time out to do extensive comparison shopping. Get and compare college student health insurance quotes from five or more reputable quotes sites, compare plans and you’ll save much. It will take you just about five minutes per site. However, you’ll easily save several hundred dollars if you do this right.
Important NOTE: By law, carriers cannot give different rates for a particular plan. Nevertheless, to ensure they have different rates for for various risk groups (and by so doing remain competitive and profitable) they instead create very many assorted plans to cater for specific profiles. Presently the US has above 10,000 such plans for customers to choose from. The same thing as having different rates for, say, 10 plans if you ask me — Only more confusing ).
You’d have to obtain many quotes, compare plans and thereafter pick whichever offers the best price/value.
There are sites that help you save much more both by showing tips and ensuring you get the best quotes. Following are are couple of such: cheap low cost health insurance and cheap health insurance rates. Chimezirim has helped many readers make considerable savings on insurance.