Why Health Insurance is Important for Online Students
Medical emergencies pop up out of nowhere. Sure, younger people might not get sick as often, but it can still happen, and accidents are always a possibility. Those unexpected medical bills can really hit your wallet hard.
As a college student, you have a lot of bills to pay, from tuition to living expenses and other educational costs. That’s why having low-cost health insurance for college students is so important. It can help cover costs for doctor visits, tests, meds, and other treatments, so you’re not left in a tough spot financially.
Basically, health insurance is a deal between you and your health insurance company. They promise to help pay for your medical bills if you pay them a regular fee (called a premium).
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More students are signing up for health insurance plans, with enrollment jumping from 24% in 2022 to 29% in 2023. This trend is especially noticeable in schools with 20,000 or more students.
One of the most frequently asked questions is, “Is Health Insurance Optional?” Whether college students need health insurance varies by state and other factors. While many colleges require insurance or automatically enroll students in medical programs, only Massachusetts requires all students to have health insurance.
Optional or not, you should prioritize getting health insurance. Doing so enables you to manage health issues without worrying about high medical bills. It also gives you access to necessary care and resources, which can keep you healthy and focused on your studies.
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What to Look for in a Low-Cost Student Health Insurance Plan
As a college student, you’re probably mostly worried about how much health insurance will cost. While finding a budget-friendly plan is key, don’t forget to make sure it covers what you actually need for your health. A good health insurance plan for college students should be affordable and offer solid coverage to help avoid those expensive medical bills.
Before diving into different health insurance plans, it’s a good idea to get to know some low-cost health insurance for college students to minimize college costs. These features help you figure out what makes a plan ideal.
- Premium: Premium is a fixed amount you pay when you go for healthcare. Depending on your insurance, you’ll pay a certain fee, and then your insurance will take care of the rest.
- Deductible: It’s basically the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your health insurance kicks in. For instance, you might need to cover a certain cost each year before your insurance starts helping you with your medical bills.
- Coverage: Before you lock in a plan, it’s important to know what’s good about it. There might be limits on how much coverage you get or how many healthcare visits you can have.
- Network Restrictions: Exclusions are just services that don’t really offer any perks. For example, if you’re a college athlete, it’s a good idea to skip any plan that doesn’t cover college sports.
Top Online Colleges Offering Affordable Health Insurance Options
These online colleges with student health insurance offer some of the most affordable student health plans:
University of Florida
This college has over 60,000 students enrolled! In-state undergrad tuition at UF is about $3,000 cheaper than the national average. Plus, online students at UF save around 40% compared to those going to classes on campus.
The UF Health Insurance Plan offers:
- Run by United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR)
- Gold level plans you see on the marketplace
- Access to a nationwide PPO network
University at Buffalo-SUNY
Started back in 1846, it is a public university set in a suburban area covering 1,350 acres. There are about 20,761 undergraduates enrolled, and they run on a semester schedule.
UB iconstantly ranks as a top national university. In-state students pay $10,781 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state tuition can go as high as $30,571.
UB – SUNY Student Health Insurance Plan features the following:
- Great coverage that doesn’t break the bank
- Available through the ACA (Affordable Care Act)
- See doctors from United Healthcare’s huge network across the country
University of Illinois – Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago has become one most ethnically and culturally rich higher education institutions in the United States. Enrolling over 21,000 students annually, UIC maintains its reputation as one of the most accessible schools for various student demographics. If you’re an in-state student, tuition and fees are around $17,811, but out-of-state students are looking at about $32,833.
The ULC Health Insurance Plan offers:
- Family Medicine
- Counseling Center
- UI Health Pharmacy
- Wellness Center
Arizona State University
ASU is known as one of the top schools around the world, shining in areas like student success, groundbreaking research, and making a difference in the community. It’s in the top 1% of universities globally and has consistently ranked high in several categories, currently sitting at No. 2 in the U.S. for how well its grads get jobs among public universities.
The ASU Health Insurance Plan offers:
- Run by United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR)
- Provides nationwide coverage
- Less expensive alternative
- Need an Arizona provider network
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University, founded back in 1887, is a public university right in the city, covering a huge 2,140-acre campus. It’s a powerhouse school for STEM degrees. For in-state students, tuition and fees are $9,105, while out-of-state students pay $31,976.
The NCSU Health Insurance Plan offers:
- Medically necessary services
- Rendered by Campus Health providers
- Covered 100% (no co-payment, no deductible) with the Student Blue Health Insurance Plan
- Prescriptions filled by Student Health Pharmacy are covered with a $15 co-payment per prescription or refill
How to Apply for Student Health Insurance at Online Colleges
Applying for low-cost health insurance for college students typically involves several steps. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate the process through health insurance options for online students:
- Check if you’re eligible. A lot of universities provide health insurance for students. It’s a good idea to check out your school’s health services or website to see if you’re eligible for any of these plans.
- Get the info you need. Please gather the following information before applying:
- Personal info like your Social Security number or student ID.
- Income information (pay stubs, tax returns, etc.)
- Details about your school (e.g., enrollment status, tuition)
- Evaluate your choices.
- If you’re thinking about your university’s plan, take a look at the coverage details, costs, and sign-up deadlines.
- Check out HealthCare.gov to compare different plans and see how they stack up in terms of coverage, costs, and deductibles!
- Fill out the application.
- Fill out the application form from your school. You can usually find it online in your student portal.
- Sign up on HealthCare.gov to apply. Either fill out the application online or give them a call.
- You can sign up by visiting your state’s Medicaid website or just reach out to your local Medicaid office.
- Send in the necessary paperwork.
- Remember to include all the important stuff with your application, like proof of income and your enrollment status.
- Wait for confirmation.
- After you send in your application, you will receive confirmation about your coverage and any necessary next steps.
- Understand your coverage.
- Once you pick a plan, take some time to check out the details, like what services are covered, how to get care, and important dates like when payments are due.
- Renew and update your insurance coverage.
- Health insurance plans usually need to be renewed every year. Keep an eye on any changes in your life or needs that might affect your coverage.
- Keep track of the enrollment deadlines for marketplace insurance since you can only apply during specific periods.
- It’s a good idea to check in with your school’s health services or financial aid office for tips on your health insurance options.
Alternatives to College-Provided Health Insurance
Several affordable health insurance options for online students are available today. These alternatives can help you save money on care because of shared costs and better rates they negotiate.
If you don’t have affordable health insurance yet, consider these cheap health insurance options for online college students:
Affordable Care Act marketplace
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is one of the most sought-after health coverage for distance learners. This plan helps people get affordable health insurance through federal and state marketplaces.
Obamacare also offers premium tax credits or subsidies to make it even cheaper. How much you can save with these subsidies depends on your income and how many people are in your household.
One reason more people are signing up is because of the big subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Because of that, it’s expected that about 80% of consumers will be able to find plans for $10 or less a month in 2024.
Medicaid
As of November 2023, it covers nearly 79 million people nationwide, making it the biggest health insurance provider in the U.S. Medicaid provides health insurance for pregnant people, parents, seniors, kids, and folks with disabilities.
Whether you qualify for Medicaid depends on things like your income and family size. There’s also Emergency Medicaid, which helps cover emergency room visits and is one of the few health insurance options available for undocumented immigrants.
Parent’s Insurance Plan
If you’re under 26, you can still get health insurance through your parent’s plan, no matter if you’re married, have kids, or where you live. In some states, you might even be able to stay on their plan longer if certain conditions apply. This applies to both employer plans and ACA marketplace plans. Plus, it usually costs less to join your parent’s plan than to buy your own.
Conclusion: Ensuring Your Health Without Breaking the Bank
Finding the right college health insurance plans is super important for keeping both your health and finances in check. Affordable student health benefits for online learners go way beyond cost-savings. They ensure you have access to necessary medical care, which can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.
You want a plan that covers you well enough so you’re not left dealing with huge bills if you get hurt, whether you’re hitting the slopes or just tripping on campus. You have a few options for coverage, like your school’s health insurance, staying on your parents’ plan, getting an ACA plan, working part-time, or looking into government programs.
Affordable health insurance for online college students can really make things a lot easier and less stressful. Before jumping into any aggressively advertised health insurance, explore budget-friendly health plans for college students online!