Some college policies are more costly now because they have to adhere to ACA requirements.
When our kids were still students, and young enough to do,so…we kept them on our plan…but ours was a PPO that covered them in any state, with in network hospitals and providers. This was required by their schools.
The OP needs to see if the family current plan meets the minimum requirements that the college has in terms of coverage.
Not all colleges are very clear about their standards on their websites, unfortunately.
80% after $1,000 deductible
Is that $1k deductible for OON an annual deductible, or per incident? If annual, that’s pretty damn good and I wouldn’t bother with other coverage so long as it also meets the school minimum requirements (I work for a health insurance company, and even the best of our employee plans has $1500 annual deductible IN network). Especially if per incident, but really either way, you need to understand your maximum out of pocket, out of network costs before you can weigh the cost/benefit/risks.
*EtA: My kid’s school is 900 miles away. Regular insurance has a couple of network docs in the university health center, and there are 2 network hospitals w/in 20 minutes, so I just stuck with my current plan to cover him. Couple of eye docs and dentists in the area too, push come to shove. Geographically, we don’t have a high-density of coverage out there, but there are enough options for a generally healthy kid.
We paid for a platinum plan with national access one year, and then found that it was just as cost-effective for one son to buy a plan in FL, since he will spend full year there. For peace of mind, the national-access plan might be worth the $$, especially if your kids will be either coming home or traveling next summer.
Both of my kids went to college using my health insurance plan.
Kid #1 used it once to get a strep test. We paid a small lab fee. She pays $10 to see a doctor on campus which is our co-pay.
Kid #2 is fortunate in that tuition includes all services at campus health- she has had PT, counseling, seen the doctor etc and has not paid any type of co-pay because it’s included in the tuition. Not sure how common that is - maybe that is the norm who knows. She received a prescription on campus for $5- they took our prescription plan.
Kid #2 is on our plan which also happens to be the plan that the school sells. All of the doctors at the hospital on campus are on it, as are all of the doctors right off campus.
@Asil65 I think most colleges have a separate line item on the tuition bill for health insurance. At some point before or after billing (depending on the college), you can opt out, if you show proof of other insurance that they deem acceptable. It’s not whether or not you “use” it. If you miss the opt-out deadline you will be stuck paying for the insurance whether or not you need it, want it, or use it. If you are allowed to opt out, they will remove it from your bill.
If you haven’t heard anything about opting out when it’s getting close to the beginning of the school year, I would contact the school to find out what you need to do to opt out if that’s what you want to do.
Our college health insurance…two schools…was not part of the tuition/room/board costs. It was an additional line item with an additional cost.
Thanks thumper1 and alooknac. Appreciate the info. Definitely will opt out. Will save me close to 2 K. Have a great weekend.