Why student health insurance?
Surprisingly, perhaps, most students don’t think a lot about student health insurance. There are many reasons for this. Students lead busy lives, and don’t have much money. Their parents have paid for their health insurance all their lives and now they don’t consider the fact that being grown-up comes with grown-up responsibilities. Student health insurance may seem like the last thing that matters. Student health insurance may seem like one expense too many, what with the cost of tuition, books, car insurance, etc. Also most schools provide a care center, and students feel that this is enough for them.
What are the disadvantages of not having student health insurance?
Students are one of the most highly stressed groups of people in the U.S. and worldwide. The pressures that students come under daily often cause them to get sick, to tire out more than usual. Depression is a rising problem in schools around the world, and medications such as antidepressants are getting more and more expensive. Students often lead physical lives, playing a lot of sports, long boarding, roller skating, etc, and these activities often lead to injuries. And students are often amongst the poorest people, too! All these reasons and more apply to the student who is considering student health insurance. Even a small, simple visit to the doctor these days can be very expensive. A prescription flu medication, uninsured, can cost more than a student’s books. A broken bone from a football game can cost more than a student’s tuition for the entire year. It may seem like a lot to pay now, but small monthly payments are much, much better than huge and unexpected ones.
How do I find student health insurance, since it’s so important to me?
The internet is the best way to find student health insurance. Your school will provide information as well. Insurance companies want to provide insurance for students; they’ll fight for your dollar. Shop around. Do the research. Find the highest rated companies with the most benefits. Prices for student health insurance actually range widely. If you don’t do your research, you may end up paying more than you should for student health insurance. Rely on objective experts to tell you who the highest rated insurance companies are, who has the best customer service, the best rates, and so forth.
What if I’m majoring in medicine?
Medicine majors, luckily, can often find student health insurance companies who will offer them more benefits than non-medical students. This isn’t always the case, however, so make sure (if you’re a medical student) you ask around.
What are some good questions to ask when searching for student health insurance?
1. How much is the deductible?
2. Do I have to see certain doctors and hospitals, or can I choose the doctors and hospitals I want to see?
3. What is the co-pay usually?
4. Let’s say I’m going home for the holidays, and I get hurt. What happens then? Can I see a doctor while I’m away from school?
5. What if I need to see a specialist for a special problem? Will I have to get a referral from someone? If so, how do I get a referral?
6. What if I’m basically healthy, and I just want to go in for a checkup. Can I, under your insurance plan, or does it only apply to emergencies and cases of sickness?
7. What’s the most I’ll be covered for? You’ll cover me if I have strep throat, obviously, but what if I’m in a car accident and I break both my knees? Are there any restrictions on what you’ll cover, or when you’ll cover it? What exactly am I paying for here?