Health Insurance for College Students

Types of student health insurance plans

There are a few different ways you can go about getting health insurance for college students:

• College health insurance plans: At some institutions, you can get student health insurance through your campus at an affordable rate. This depends on the school you are attending and what they have to offer. We recommend chatting with an advisor to see what your student health insurance options are. Annual costs can range from $2,000 to $4,000.⁵
• Parent’s employer health insurance plans: If one of your parents has a health insurance plan, you may be able to be added to their plan. The general rule of thumb is that children can stay on their parent’s health insurance until they are 26 years old.⁶
• State health insurance plans: Each state offers a health insurance exchange for those unable to get insurance through work or their parents. Essentially, the exchange is a marketplace where consumers can buy health insurance.⁷ When it comes to health insurance for college students with no income, Medicaid may be a good option.

How student health insurance works

Student health insurance works the same way as traditional health insurance. In exchange for premium payments, college students get certain benefits that help bring the cost of medical care down.⁸ You may have to meet a deductible or set dollar value toward medical services before benefits kick in.⁹

With student health insurance, you also may receive copays and coinsurance or discounts on certain doctor's appointments, prescriptions and treatments.¹⁰ Each plan has a different set of rules and limitations, so we recommend looking at your health insurance options closely.

What does student health insurance cover?

Student health insurance may have similar coverage to traditional health insurance plans. College students may be able to expect coverage for:

• Mental health care¹¹
• Doctor and hospital visits
• Prescription medications
• Medical treatments and devices¹²

We strongly recommend you look at the details of each health insurance plan you are considering, as coverage vastly varies from plan to plan.

Aflac Supplemental Insurance to work with your student health insurance

We sincerely hope you can find the student health insurance coverage you need to thrive while in school. If you find a plan that works with your budget but still leaves you with major medical expenses expected to be paid out-of-pocket, Aflac supplemental insurance may be able to help. We work with your primary health insurance plan to help offset hefty medical costs.