<p>Kathleen Pender of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote a really good article this morning on health insurance for newly graduated college students. </p>
<p>I'd rate it a must read - even for those without a college grad this year!!!</p>
<p>GREAT article. We just got an individual high deductible Anthem policy for our son (goes into affect today…he graduated yesterday). No break in coverage and he does have a well managed preexisting condition. I wish I knew about TONIC…I wonder if that is part of his policy here in CT? His has a $1500 deductible…but prescriptions (a managed RX plan) are covered immediately.</p>
<p>Ther “no break in coverage” is key to avoid getting hit with a pre-existing condition waiting period. We’ve discovered that with dental, however, there are still 1 year wait periods for the big ticket items like root canals, crowns, etc, unless anyone is aware of any policies that don’t do this?</p>
<p>If your child goes right into grad school full time, they are usually covered? I think Anthem which we have said 25, my son will be 21 when he graduates and if he attends grad school, 24 or older when he graduates.
I will call them soon to make sure, something to think about that many students probably take for granted.</p>
<p>Thumper:
<a href=“http://tonikhealthinsurance.com/Tonik-Connecticut.html[/url]”>http://tonikhealthinsurance.com/Tonik-Connecticut.html</a></p>
<p>Thank you for the timely post.
Our son will be ‘kicked off’ my employer benefit plan this December.
Cobra is outrageously expensive.
I think we can buy him some kind of coverage through this grad school.
It happens to be in Connecticut, but he will retain NJ residency as a grad student.
I will study the tonik link since it refers to connecticut…but I suppose I’ll find it applies to Conn residents.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help</p>
<p>Hopefully this mess all becomes a moot point within a couple of years with health care reform and guaranteed coverage for all, even those with preexisting conditions</p>
<p>I just COBRA’ed my son - it would have been way too expensive to COBRA him on the same policy I have but I was able to switch him to one of the less expensive options offered by my employer. He has a job starting in mid-July so the COBRA is just covering a gap. I looked into buying a separate policy but given the short time period decided not to. Here’s a helpful site for comparing health insurance options available to recent grads: [Health</a> Insurance, Medical Insurance, Individual Health Insurance Quotes](<a href=“http://www.ehealthinsurance.com%5DHealth”>http://www.ehealthinsurance.com).</p>
<p>We got DS his own insurance with Regence of Oregon (original national BX) on a HSA with 3000 deductible with manadory prescription program. BX of Washington HSA w/o drug and 5000 deductible and w/o drug benefit is half the cost of Oregon. Since he has moved to WA and he is in excellent health and has a good income level, he would save considerable $$ if he took the WA program with the higher deductible and w/o drug program. You can buy a lot of drugs with the savings. </p>
<p>Amazing what a crossing the a river can do to health insurance.</p>
<p>If any of y’all are federal employees, there’s an FEHB plan that you can buy to cover your dependent children up to age 27. The parent must be covered under the SAMBA plan and then they can purchase the Dependent Children Health Benefit Plan for about $200/month with the same coverage as the parent’s plan. The catch is that the child must be wholly dependent on the parent for support (see [11301</a> Old Georgetown Road](<a href=“http://www.sambaplans.com/Enrollment_and_Eligibility.html]11301”>http://www.sambaplans.com/Enrollment_and_Eligibility.html) for details). The plan uses the CIGNA network of doctors.</p>
<p>We bought this plan for our S who graduated last summer but hasn’t found a job with benefits yet. It has been a lifesaver for us at nearly half the price of a guaranteed-issue policy.</p>
<p>I am glad we have Massachusetts coverage, our recent college grad can stay on for two full years with non-dependent status, meaning two years of filing her own tax return & being claiming herself. It is quite a relief not to worry about her medical coverage at the moment.</p>
<p>Just a heads up for those of you with younger (e.g. non-grads)… if your child drops below full time enrollment they can lose coverage under your insurance.</p>
<p>This can be quite a surprise if he or she takes 15 units but then drops a 4 unit class mid semester and is at 11 units instead of the minimum 12.</p>
<p>Each policy is unique.
My employer offers me family coverage for which I pay a small premium per paycheck. Dependents can be covered till Dec of year they turn 23 yrs, whether students or not. It’s very generous.</p>
<p>I agree with scualum that it’s important to know you specific policy.</p>
<p>It is odd that one group insurance costs different from another group insurance and with different benefits or with the same benefits. Some employer companies will subsidize the cost and some will not subsidize the cost. Since group insurance is based on group expected experience, it would behoove the employer to have a 35-50 yo workforce and do so by encouraging older employees to move to other pastures and younger workers to stay unmarried and heathy. </p>
<p>I viewed one insurance program for DS that was very reasonable and would have chosen this program if he didn’t find his current job. I couldn’t see how this program was so much cheaper until I looked at one of the benefits–no pregnancy benefits, at all, at anytime.</p>
<p>Our health insurance, under Tricare military, cuts the student off the day he is no longer full-time. Our 21 year old son who graduated in May was no longer eligible as of midnight of graduation day.</p>
<p>I’m so envious of those who have plans that keep the kids insured until 23 or even 25!
If S ends up attending grad school, he’ll be able to be re-enrolled until 23. Our D turned 23 last year, is a full-time graduate student, so she dropped off then.</p>
<p>It’s really hit me how this particular age group (newly graduated college students) are so affected by this gap in health insurance. Many of them who do find jobs don’t get benefits. And then there’s the masses (like S) who haven’t even found a job yet, let alone get benefits.</p>
<p>I can see why so many kids this age forfeit health insurance…with student loans coming due and the general cost of living so high, it’s tough. We are purchasing health insurance for both our kids, but I’m sure many are unable to do so.</p>
<p>Health inisurance reform is long overdue.</p>
<p>curiouser-
Like you, we will purchase some kind of health insurance for son bound for grad school this fall. I am very grateful that we have till December to sort this out; many others don’t have that luxury. Of course, it may take me to Dec to sort through and price our options.
It is very confusing. In our case, son will retain NJ residency but will be a student in Connecticut. This makes it difficult with preferred providers and HMO rules.
I think we’ll end up trying to make the school’s policy work for us.</p>
<p>I remember 30 yrs ago being fortunate enough to obtain job with benefits right out of school. Not that I worried about lack of insurance. Maybe my parents did but that that I recall. Now, one trip to ER or inpatient admission would cripple son with no insurance.
It is too scary. Maybe I’m just sensitized to the whole thing since I work in a hospital.
Other parents don’t seem so worried!</p>
<p>Son is covered through dec. Turns 23 in a few months I just got quotes from golden rule united health care which we have now they also have pacific care. <$100 a month with $1500 deductible. I need to read the fine print. I also plan to calll costco it was united health care or pacific care also. His university insurance is about $500 a yr but is just hospital and pays something like <200 a day. Wouldn’t cover the bed rate at hospital. Anyone have experience with claims?</p>
<p>Every time I think of quitting the part-time job I’ve come to really dislike, I think of this. My husband has his own business and I carry the health insurance. I’ve been working part-time, at the same place (a hospital) for the last 20+ years. As a result, I am eligilbe for family health insurance, even though I work just 15 hours per week. About 5 years ago they changed the rules, but “grandfathered” in anyone who currently held health insurance. If I change jobs within the organization, I would have to work more hours per week in order to qualify for the insurance. My job has changed quite a bit since I’ve been there and I really dislike it, but fully realize how lucky I am to even have a job and one with great insurance to boot. My kids can stay on my health insurance till age 25, student or not. When all my kids graduate from college, grad school etc., maybe I’ll think about changing jobs. Of course, I may be old enough to retire by then! lol</p>
<p>Peachy267, I am glad to read your post! Next time my H hears from a recruiter, he may want to realize how lucky we are! Children can’t be tossed off health insurance if they turn 19 & are not full-time/part-time students, nor can they be thrown off if they graduate from college. This is all due to Massachusetts health insurance reform. I am going to have to remind him about this! Another job, another type of coverage could certainly change all that! We must be grateful for what we have.</p>
<p>Hi all,
When this first appeared it was too early to apply for son. Now I have to get something soon. School plan is $31 a month and covers $75 k max. I don’t feel comfortable with the limit. Golden rule is about $100/month. </p>
<p>Anthem is avail thru same broker as school. Anyone familiar --how did it work for you? Claims? Any advice </p>
<p>Son is in good health but I know anything can happen. Including ER via ambulance for severe dehydration / flu. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The new plan covering offspring up to age 27 starts in January. My S has been covered through age 25 on my plan, due to his choice of a low income lifestyle-teaching in China and Americorps. I was worried as to how insurance would work out, though Americorps has a rather basic plan that participants are advised to avoid if there are other options. </p>
<p>But my employer states that they can cover him again on my family plan starting in January, though it will be considered a taxable benefit. Perhaps this will be less than helpful for FAFSA numbers, but we’ll see how it plays out.</p>