Stay on Your Parent’s Health Insurance

If your parents carry you on their insurance, stay on it as long as you can.
With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, beginning in September 2010, your dependent children must be allowed to stay on your health plan up to age 26 unless your young adult is eligible for employer health coverage.
Beware of the details, though. If your parents' coverage is a health maintenance organization (HMO), full coverage may only be available in the area where they live. Some HMOs have reciprocal arrangements that allow for full coverage in areas outside their local base, however, and that's something that you should investigate before you select this option.
Similar problems can arise with parental insurance that's based on a preferred provider organization (PPO). It typically requires you to get treatment from a medical provider within a predetermined network to get the best rates, and you might not find one if your school is far from home. You might have to go home to get the lowest copayments and coinsurance.
In the case of a medical emergency, your parent’s health plan is required to cover services from any provider or facility (such as an emergency room) that provides immediate care.
No Longer Working or Covered by Your Parents,
If you have recently left a job that provided you with group health insurance, a federal law called  allows you to stay on that plan for at least 18 months as long as you pay the full premiums. The health reform legislation does not make any changes in If you are over 26 and still attending college, you may lose the health plan coverage that your parents have been providing. However, you may be eligible for  continuation coverage for some period of time. Your parents, who have been carrying the insurance for you, will need to check with their insurance agent or benefits manager at work to make sure that you are eligible.
See if Your School Offers Health Insurance
Many colleges and universities offer low-cost health plans for their students through contracts with private health insurance companies. Check with your admissions office to see if your school does, and if so, what sort of coverage you can get.
Some colleges and universities may require that you carry some type of comprehensive health care coverage as a condition of enrollment.
Your school may offer several types of student health policies ranging from a simple accident policy to one that covers major medical needs. It is probably a good idea for you to purchase a comprehensive medical policy that will cover visits to the student health service, specialists, medically-necessary procedures and diagnostic tests.

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