Health Insurance During Gap Year?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I am very close to deciding on taking a gap year next year. Since I won't be enrolled in college, my parent's insurance won't cover me. I'm not sure what steps to take to get health insurance, and I'm concerned about the costs. </p>

<p>I will contact my health insurance company, but in the meantime, does anybody have any advice? Has anyone been through this experience? Any recommended plans for a gap year?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>You are COBRA eligible. You may elect to continue the insurance under the same approx rates as on you parents plan. they will carve out an amount for you from the family plan. Call the HR person at your parents work and they will send you the information you need.</p>

3

<p>First, make sure to call the insurance and check. Most will cover till you are 19 regardless of student status.</p>

<p>You can get some basic insurance for ~50/month through Aetna or BC/BS. You will have a high deductible, and will have to pay out of pocket for any routine exams, but it will cover any kind of hospitalizations and catastrophic events.</p>

4

<p>Cobra, of course, is an option, but a very expensive one.</p>

5

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<p>YMMV on this amount per month. DS has an individual anthem PPO policy with a high deductible…over $150 a month. A lot depends on your state.</p>

<p>In some states, there is coverage for lower income individuals (Massachusetts has this). Or you may have to get an individual policy. BUT first, as mentioned…check the provisions of your parents’ plan.</p>

<p>Another thing some students have done during a gap year is take 12 credits as non-marticulated students at a community college for each semesters…that is full time status and your insurance would then be continued.</p>

6

<p>It’s probably cheaper to get an individual plan than it is to do COBRA. I’m working for a year or two before grad school, so I had to be taken off my mom’s insurance since I wasn’t a full time student anymore (her insurance is really good - covers up to age 26 as a full time student). We did COBRA for a month or 2, but now I’m getting an individual plan through BCBS which is at least $200 cheaper a month.</p>

7

<p>Thank you all for your responses! I called my insurance company. Luckily, I am covered until I am 19 years old.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your help!</p>

8

<p><<Another thing some students have done during a gap year is take 12 credits as non-marticulated students at a community college for each semesters…that is full time status and your insurance would then be continued. <<
That might get the student in trouble with the school from which she is taking a gap year: in my D’s case, the only requirement is that she <em>does not</em> register somewhere else. Taking 12 credits, whether matriculated or not, may be considered a violation of the agreement.
Also, in our state, the cost per credit, per semester, is $150, which would translate into $300/month. Wouldn’t a healthy 19 year-old be able to find cheaper insurance?</p>