Affordable Health & Dental Insurance for Students

Many insurance companies negotiate with doctors for lower prices for their policyholders and will also pay for a portion of the services. It is important to balance the cost of the premiums with the amount of coverage you receive. Many colleges require students to carry health insurance.

Parent's Plan

• The least expensive insurance for student may be to stay on his parent's insurance plan. Federal law raised the eligible age to 26. The downside to this option is that the student may have to pay an out-of-network fee if the school is in a different state. To take this option, parents will need to pay the premiums for their student while he is in college.

Work Insurance

• A college student may qualify for health insurance through an off-campus job. Companies such as Starbucks, Barnes & Noble and UPS offer benefits such as health insurance to part-time workers. This option is usually less expensive than the plan offered through the university and may have better overall coverage. You may need to work a minimum numbers of hours a week to qualify, and wait a period of at least three months before benefits begin.

University Health Insurance Plans

• Most universities offer insurance plans. The premiums are paid per semester or monthly, and you are allowed to use grant or loan money to pay for insurance. This insurance may not cover you over the summer. The rate may be lower than an individual plan. If you have preexisting medical conditions, a group plan through the university will be easier to qualify for than an independent plan. University insurance programs work like a traditional health insurance plan as opposed to student insurance you may purchase when you are attending high school or elementary school.

High Deductible Health Insurance Plan

• A high deductible health insurance plan is an option if you need to buy independent health insurance. This plan is more affordable than traditional insurance with co-payments and coinsurance, because they will not begin coverage until you have met your deductible of at least $1,200.00. The deductible is set by the laws required to open a Health Savings Account by the IRS. This will cover medical emergencies such as surgeries, and keep you from declaring medical bankruptcy.

Dental Insurance and Alternatives

• Most college students do not carry dental insurance. It is not a requirement by universities, and they do not offer dental plans. You can purchase dental insurance individually, but many dental plans do not cover much more than the annual premium you pay. Another option is a dental discount card. The dental discount card usually costs between $100 to $200 a year. Once you purchase the card, you receive a list of dentists who have agreed to offer people a discounted rate on services, allowing them to save money. Generally, you will save 50 percent on each visit, which is about enough savings to pay for the card with just one check-up and cleaning.