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When a student goes off to school, getting hurt and paying for medical bills should be the least of their worries. However, accidents and illness never strike at convenient times. Luckily, specific health insurance plans are designed for many types of students, such as college and international students, graduate students, and students over 26, to help protect them from expensive medical bills.1
Student health insurance can really help those at the university level. Some universities require college students to have health insurance, but if they are covered by a parent’s plan they may not have to enroll. If you are an international college student, your health insurance eligibility depends on the type of visa you have.2 And if you’re over 26, you can purchase a health insurance plan yourself. We recommend chatting with a school counselor to understand requirements best.
If you are in high school or elementary school, health insurance for children may be a better route. It’s important to note that Aflac doesn’t offer full-coverage health insurance for students, but we do offer supplemental insurance that works with existing plans to help with out-of-pocket expenses. Read on to learn how health insurance for college students works and some types of insurance plans for students.
It’s important for college students to have health insurance, as being covered can financially protect you in case of unforeseen medical expenses. Health insurance can also allow you to pay less in out-of-pocket expenses for in-network health care.
Some schools will require college students to have health insurance to enroll into the program.2 However, this depends on the university.
International student health insurance can also be helpful for those traveling to America, as the U.S. does not have universal health care. Accessibility may depend on the visa held by the international student and the state they are studying in.2
If you’re a college or graduate student, you may be able to get coverage through your parent’s health insurance plan or through the school. And if you’re over the age of 26, you may purchase a health insurance plan on your own.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with affordable coverage from Aflac.
There are a few different ways you can go about getting health insurance for college and graduate students:
Student health insurance works the same way as traditional health insurance. In exchange for premium payments, college students and graduate students get certain benefits that help bring the cost of medical care down.5 You may have to meet a deductible or set dollar value toward medical services before benefits kick in.5
With student health insurance, you also may receive copays and coinsurance or discounts on certain doctor's appointments, prescriptions and treatments.5 Each plan has a different set of rules and limitations, so we recommend looking at your health insurance options closely.
Student health insurance may have similar coverage to traditional health insurance plans. College students may be able to expect coverage for:
We strongly recommend you look at the details of each health insurance plan you are considering, as coverage vastly varies from plan to plan.
Whether you’re a college student or graduate student, we sincerely hope you can find the student health insurance coverage you need to thrive while in school. If you find a plan that works with your budget but still leaves you with major medical expenses expected to be paid out-of-pocket, Aflac supplemental insurance may be able to help. We work with your primary health insurance plan to help offset hefty medical costs.
1 Best Health Insurance for College Students 2024. Updated December 06, 2023. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/best-health-insurance-for-college-students-5086827.
2 Times Higher Education - Health insurance for international students in the US. Updated December 9, 2022. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/advice/health-insurance-international-students-us.
3 GoodRX Health - What Are My Health Insurance Options as a College Student? Updated January 18, 2024. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/health-insurance/health-insurance-options-for-college-students.
4 Very Well Health - Which States Run Their Own Health Insurance Exchanges. Updated August 01, 2023. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.verywellhealth.com/which-states-run-their-own-health-insurance-exchanges-5199217.
5 Investopedia - Health Insurance: Definition, How It Works. Updated December 16, 2023. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/healthinsurance.asp.
6 Investopedia - What Does Health Insurance Not Cover. Updated February 7, 2023. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insurance/09/services-health-insurers-do-not-cover.asp.
Coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. Coverage underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent. Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY or VA. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions.
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