<p>What are your college grads doing about health insurance if they are not going to work for a company that provides it? What are the best options for healthy young adults?
Are you involved in any way in helping them make decisions about it, or in paying for it?</p>
<p>High deductible kind…basically you will insure only for hospitalization. Rest you pay.</p>
<p>We’re about to have to deal with this very problem. S has one more year on our insurance, but when he turns 22, that’s it. Right now he’s on my insurance because my federal govt. policy has better terms than that offered by my H’s job. But H’s company insurance will keep a full time student insured until age 25. If S stays in school (law school or grad school), we’re considering switching to H’s company insurance for a while. If he doesn’t, then we’ll probably have to buy him a policy ourselves if his job doesn’t provide coverage.</p>
<p>A good place to start looking is <a href=“http://www.einsurance.com%5B/url%5D”>www.einsurance.com</a>. We have also looked at policies from Blue Cross. We will involve him in discussions about what type of coverage to get, but there’s no way he could afford to pay for it himself. Like Simba said, we will look for a policy that covers major hospitalization expenses, not necessarily dr. visits and prescriptions. We’ll help out as long as we can until he gets a job that provides it.</p>
<p>Another option- if you think they are going to get a job or attend a school which offers coverage in the not too distant future is to pick up the COBRA. COBRA is expensive, but it is the same good coverage that they have under your plan, and it is worth it in the short term. I am a big believer in having good medical insurance.</p>
<p>Check the alumi webstie fo the UG school- they frequently offer some programs. Also, D is going on to grad school, but is not a FT student now, so is no longer eligible for our plan, which is high deductible anyway, so no help with litle things.</p>
<p>In some states, like WA, there is a plan available for low income adults, around $17-$50/mo. D is independent and a student, therefor her income qualifies. I found the plan and had the info mailed to her, it is up to her to sign up. Yes, it is a plan using the local clinics, etc., but it also covers Rx & hosp, so it will work best for her, at least for the time until grad school begins and then she can see what they offer</p>
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<p>I think many kids don’t realize the risk they are taking by not having health insurance coverage even for a short time…</p>
<p>Each state has it’s own plans. Start within your state rather than a esurance type thing where you have a telephone operator making suggestions. You can always call your state office of Insurance for help. They can at least lead you in the right direction. </p>
<p>Any policy you purchase needs to be licensed for your state. Sometimes via internet, they aren’t and you’re screwed. Check with your state first.</p>
<p>I was able to find HSA-eligible $2500/year deductible health insurance for each kid for $67/month. I started by searching “Washington individual health insurance” and there was a lovely state website listing state suppliers. I am paying for it until they are ready to cover themselves, as it is important to me to be able to sleep nights. My D went to the emergency room for the first time in her life two days ago, with an ear infection that was so painful she was in tears. Nice to know she was insured, if it had been more than that.</p>