If your student has been happily using his or her college’s health care plan, your family may be in for a surprise. Inside Higher Ed reported that President Obama’s new health care bill may completely eliminate college-provided health insurance!

Current College Health Insurance

When the HIPPA law passed in 1996, it created a provision for colleges to offer low-cost insurance to their students. Since then, colleges have offered students the option of purchasing health insurance right along side with paying their tuition.

This has worked out well for many students, who have been able to take advantage of on-campus care by paying little or nothing out-of-pocket for prescriptions, x-rays and other medical care.

At most colleges, students who do not wish to participate in campus insurance coverage have the option of submitting an Insurance Waiver. These students could then continue with their own individual or family insurance plan, and in most cases they can still use the school medical center. In some other cases, however, students are forced to buy school health plans if they wante to use on-campus medical facilities.

A Disappearing Act

According to recent reports, the new healthcare reform bill only makes provisions for two types of health insurance–employer provided insurance, and individually purchased insurance. Because insurance provided by colleges does not fall into either category, it might disappear altogether.

Proponents of student healthcare have suggested two alternatives: First, that legislators re-word their unintended exclusion of student health insurance so it can be added to the bill, and second, that schools be encouraged to accept employer-provided insurance at their on-campus medical centers.

What You Can Do

As we wait for more news on the upcoming healthcare reform legislation, take some time to determine how your student’s current health insurance option is working out for your family.

• Compare Prices. Start by comparing prices and benefits between your family’s individual or employer-provided plan and the school plan, to discover which truly is the best option (both from a cost and benefit standpoint).
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• Assess Your Options. Find out if your student’s school medical center will accept non-school health insurance. If they don’t, decide whether you would prefer to keep your non-school insurance or have your student get access to be treated on campus.
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• Stay Eligible. If you decide to go with employer-provided insurance, read over your eligibility requirements carefully. Many insurance providers require your child to be at full-time (usually 12+ units) status in order to retain coverage through a parent or guardian.

All the best
Deborah Fox

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