Health Insurance Options for Adult College Students

Adult college students have a variety of options when it comes to health insurance plans, including private coverage and school-sponsored plans. There are many important points to consider prior to selecting a plan. These include the cost of premiums, co-payments, coverage needs based on pre-exisiting medical conditions, lifestyle and activities, and physician or hospital networks the coverage may require.

School-Sponsored Plans

• Some colleges and universities sponsor health insurance plans for students, often via private insurance companies. School-sponsored plans may have restrictions on coverage and may require students to make use of campus health resources and/or physicians associated with the school. Eligibility requirements vary from school to school, but typically all students are eligible.

  As an example, the 2010-2011 Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan at St. John's University is open to all registered students at the school and is actually required unless students can prove they have other health coverage. As of 2010, the annual cost of coverage is $857 for an undergraduate student and $1,147 for a graduate student; spouses and dependents under the age of 19 are also eligible for voluntary coverage at an additional cost.

Private Insurance

• Private health insurance allows students to pick and choose the coverage they're interested in, including maternity and mental health coverage. Participants can usually select the deductible amount, as well. However, even with changes to the health care system in 2010---scheduled to continue through 2014---private insurance can be difficult and expensive to obtain. In 2006, the "Wall Street Journal" reported Americans paid an average of $218 per month in premium costs.

  Students who enroll in private insurance plans need to be careful to understand their coverage and network providers, if any. It's essential to research and compare plans prior to making a commitment.

Coverage Under Parents' Plan

• Another health insurance option for adult college students may be coverage under their parents' plan. Health care laws enacted in 2010 require insurance companies to offer coverage to children until they are 26 years old regardless of the child's enrollment status.

  eHealthInsurance.com points out this coverage may not be ideal if students are attending a school located in a different state than the one in which their parents reside. This is because of some insurance carriers' network provider requirements; the adult child's local doctors or health care facilities may not be covered under the plan.