As your young student prepares for their first days on campus, there are many factors to consider. One important concern may be your child’s continued eligibility for coverage under your group health insurance plan. No one wants to imagine their child hurt or sick and unable to care for themselves. Yet, the good news is, most plans will cover your student, even if they no longer live at home but rather on campus. Though this eligibility has the possibility of expiring when your child turns 20, in some cases it may continue until they are as old as age 24.

Even so, there are still good reasons why you may want to consider the health insurance offered through your student’s college. The university | collegiate type of plan often proves less expensive than continuing group coverage. Importantly, being part of a student health plan also eliminates problems that might arise should your child be unable to find an in-network service provider within a convenient distance from his | her campus.

Be sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with your child’s options before making decisions about his | her health insurance situation while away at school. Confirm their continued eligibility under your existing policy and look into the possible option of student health insurance offered through their university or college.