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Do University Students Qualify for Their Parents' Health Insurance?

Most university students qualify for their parents' health insurance, and should have no problem continuing existing coverage as they move from high school to college, or if they restart coverage that has lapsed, according to Jennifer Williamson of Distance Education. If a student does not have access to their parents' plans, or if the coverage offered is inadequate, students should consider buying university health insurance or an individual plan.

  1. Students

    • Many insurance policies cover dependents who are in school, and by January 2011 children up to the age of 26 can remain on a parent's plan under the health care reform bill signed in May 2010, as USA Today reports. If you are a part-time student, however, check coverage with your provider. Also look into your parents` coverage network, as it may not extend into the area where you are going to school.

    Age

    • However, most policies also have a clause that limits coverage of students to a certain age group, according to Williamson. With the 2010 health care reform, policies must cover children until age 26, effective between September 2010 and January 2011 (depending on how new the plan is and if it runs monthly or annually), regardless of their student status. Some policies will continue to cover students regardless of age, while others place a higher limit. Check with your provider if you are over 26.

    States

    • Different states have different laws regarding children, other dependents, students and health insurance. Check with your university or your provider to see if any state laws apply to you, or look at the state law table available on the National Conference of State Legislatures' website. New Jersey, for example, requires insurance companies to cover unmarried children until age 30, applicable to all New Jersey residents and students enrolled in New Jersey institutions.

    Student Insurance

    • If you do not qualify for coverage under your parents' plan, you can usually get coverage through your school. Most schools provide low-cost health insurance policies for their students, often for free or reduced for graduate students. However, according to USA Today, more than half of the plans analyzed in a 2008 study capped maximum benefits at very low levels, which leaves students with potentially thousands of dollars in medical bills in the case of a serious illness or accident.

    Check With Your Provider

    • If you have any questions or doubts about whether you qualify, check with your parents' health insurance provider. It's much better to be told no when you are healthy and can make other arrangements than to have an insurance claim denied when you are in the hospital.

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