Health Insurance Concerns for Graduate Students

Many graduate students have a different set of concerns when it comes to health insurance questions than people who are currently working full-time. Graduate students often forgo health insurance because they cannot afford it on such a limited budget. However, health insurance protects you from bankruptcy and insures that you will receive medical care when you become ill or injured.

Affordability

• Many graduate students are on a tight budget, and may feel they cannot afford health insurance. Some graduate students no longer qualify to be on their parents' plan and may be facing the responsibility of paying for health insurance for the first time. Most universities offer a student health plan that will cover students if the worse is to happen. The coverage may not be the best available, but it is usually affordable.

  Another affordable option is to sign up for an individual high deductible plan through a health insurance company. The high deductible plan is usually very inexpensive. The coverage will not begin until the deductible has been met, but then it covers all medical expenses for the rest of the year. It is a good option for a healthy individual on a budget.

Maternity Insurance

• Many graduate student insurance options do not offer maternity insurance or the ability to add on family members. Some schools do offer a policy that includes maternity coverage, and this is the best plan to take since individual maternity insurance is very expensive. Another option is to apply to government health insurance since most graduate students have incomes below the poverty level. The same option is available for children of graduate students.

Finding Covered Providers

• Most college student health insurance plans require you to go to the student health center to receive health care. Graduate students may travel more than a typical college student and may have difficulty finding a facility that is approved by the insurance plan. Finding specialists approved by the plan may be difficult as well.

  Another problem occurs when the graduate student is still on his parents' insurance policy. If he is out of state he may have difficulty finding doctors who will accept the insurance plan or that are in network. This will drive up the cost of visiting the doctor when he is sick or prove to be a challenge to get to a doctor that does accept the insurance. Transportation to go off campus for a doctor's visit may also be an obstacle for graduate students.