Student Stuff

Is it really October already? The college students are settled into their dorms by now and hitting the books on a steady basis, or at least you hope they are. It is important that their health insurance continues with no interruptions because young people can get just as sick as “older folks”. Young people are also more prone to injuries from sports, exercising, etc.

If your children are covered under your group health insurance from your employer, it is important that you get a “Proof of Student Status” letter from the Registrar’s office. This is needed for children ages 19 and over. You need a new one every semester. Most insurance carriers will send you a letter, notifying you that you must furnish this proof of coverage. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield then gives you 45 days to do so. If the insurance carrier does not have proof of student status, no claims will be paid.

Most group plans will cover your children to age 23, so long as they are full time students. Be sure to check your Benefits Handbook to see how long your student can maintain group coverage. We have seen a few plans go up to age 26! Those plans are few and far between.

What happens if your student drops out or reduces his/her course load? They must maintain 12 credits to be considered a full-time student. If this isn’t the case, they no longer qualify to be on the group plan. It is your responsibility to notify your employer of this change. Continuation of benefits under the COBRA law may be an option. Your employer can help you with that. Another option would be to purchase health insurance on an individual basis. If there is a gap in coverage, there will be a waiting period for pre-existing conditions. If your child should later decide to go back to school, you can always drop the individual coverage and get him/her back on the group plan, so long as the age is under 23.

Some colleges and universities offer health insurance at a minimal price. This is usually minimal coverage so be sure to read the small print. Like anything else, you usually get what you pay for. I have seen some of these plans pay $100 a day for an in-hospital stay. Hospital bills are in excess of $1,000 per day so $100 is of little help. If your student is covered under your group health insurance plan, there is no need for this additional coverage.

Irene Card & Betsy Chandler are both licensed insurance professionals working at MIC Insurance Services, a health insurance services company. If you have questions relative to this column or other related topics, we invite you to call (973) 492-2828, browse our past columns on our web site at www.micinsurance.com.

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