Health Insurance for College Students
Reader’s Question:
By the time my only son and his class tossed their high school graduation caps into the air, he has already secured the college which he will attend, his dorm room, and had his freshman year courses all picked out. No worries on those things for he is quite a responsible young man. I am just worried that his health insurance is not as securely in place as the rest of these issues.
William
Spokane, WA
Many times, your existing health insurance plan will cover your son until he is 24 years old. If your health insurance plan does not cover college students, it will be best and most beneficial to look into what college health plans are offered at your son’s university.
College health insurance plans can be subsidized by tuition at some schools in Spokane. Such subsidy though does not include your son’s spouses or dependents, which can save you some money. Be advised that college health insurance plans are not free, and its benefits shall vary from one college to another. Health insurance companies in Spokane Washington WA usually meet with committees from different schools to design a plan, specifically tailored to that school’s students. At times, the health insurance policy plans may limit preventive care, but free services may be offered at the health center in Spokane.
There is usually no charge for office visits, but students might be billed for x-rays, lab work, prescriptions, physical therapy, and procedures such as treatment for a wound. Other services that could be covered shall include well-child care, mental health, newborn and infant care, routine AIDS/STD testing, routine pap and pelvic exams, as well as cholesterol screenings. Benefits will pay 100% for covered services at the college health center. For coverage outside the health insurance plan, a deductible may be required. For such cases, coverage could drop quite a bit at 70%.
Take note that premiums and benefits vary from college to college, due to Washington State laws and other economic factors.