<p>Dear parents, who have their kids somewhere at far-away colleges; how do you and your kids arrange their routine, non-emergency healthcare, like annual physical check-ups, some specialists consultations as needed etc.? Do you rely on the campus health centers? (Do you feel they tend to meet all students' needs adequately?) Or do your kids find temselves the local doctors (somewhere around their campus area) from your health insurance networks? Do any of you consider just making your students go to their "old" doctors while they come home for vacations? Any other suggestions on that matter?</p>
<p>All of the above.</p>
<p>My daughter, who is at a college seven hours away, gets most of her routine stuff (dental checkups, eye exams, etc.) done during breaks, especially Winter Break, when there is little to do but get your body serviced and fill out internship applications. </p>
<p>When she has a health problem at school, she goes to the campus health center. However, for anything even slightly complicated, they refer people to health professionals in the community. Right now, she has a minor but persistent problem for which she may need to see a specialist. She is trying to make the situation wait until she's home for Winter Break, where she will have plenty of time and easy access to a car. But if it can't wait, she's going to have to make an appointment with a specialist in the college community and go to the appointment by bus or taxi -- which is not her idea of how to waste the better part of a day during finals.</p>
<p>Needless to say, our daughter is still on our family's health insurance, which is a pretty good network where it is not difficult to find a doctor. She also has dental, eye, and prescription coverage, through our family's insurance, not the college.</p>
<p>S1, a senior, has seen an opthamologist, an orthopedic Dr., and an orthodontist in his college town. The first two he was referred to by Student Health center. I found the orthodontist for him through our hometown Orthodontist. S1 has utilized the Student Health Center at his school many times. He has had bloodwork done there as well as physical therapy (which was top notch according to S) for a knee injury plus all the usual stuff like sinus infections and sprained ankles. He attends a big state u. He/we have always been satifisfied with the services he has received there.</p>
<p>We don't have great coverage and don't really have a relationship with a local personal physician.</p>
<p>My kids all use their campus health center, one DD even had knee surgery there, as her coverage (in network) is way better than mine. It was no problem.</p>
<p>If your D's school has a parent network, ask there (also a great way to find a car mechanic, rides, etc). You could also check Angies List for that area. Always good to get someone else's recommendation.</p>
<p>We are like Marian. Routine tune ups at home, when there is emergency use the health center. She did find a good chiropractor by her school that she goes regularly. We have pretty good coverage, so she could go most most of doctors around her school. She will be going to Australia next summer, our insurance company told us that she would still be covered. Her local school may still require us to take out local insurance anyway.</p>
<p>"get your body serviced"</p>
<p>Good one....LOL.</p>
<p>I'd advise that parents stay on their kids about routine care...my parents certainly did, and aside from my yearly gynecological examinations (which I always went to because I needed birth control) I didn't do routine care -- dental cleanings, annual physicals, none of that. When I was sick I went to the campus health center. When my glasses broke or I ran out of contacts or my eyes started to strain, I went home and went to my ophthalmologist at home, but I only went to school 20-30 minutes away from home. (Then again, I didn't do much routine care when I was at home, either, besides the eye doctor.)</p>
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<p>I'd advise that parents stay on their kids about routine care</p>
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<p>Could you, please, explain? :)</p>