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| Get Health Insurance for College Graduates |
If you've recently graduated from college, congratulations! But now that you have a degree, you may be in for a rude awakening if you're no longer covered under your university's health insurance plan or have aged out of your parents' health insurance policy.
You may think you can survive without health benefits until you land a job that provides benefits, but when it comes to health, nothing is certain. After graduation, the best and most affordable option may be to invest in an individual health insurance policy.
College Graduates Without Health Insurance
A number of health insurance companies drop dependents from their parents' health insurance policies once they earn a college degree. But new health insurance legislation mandates that dependent children may remain on their parents' health care plan until the age of 26.
Individual Health Insurance for College Graduates
You may think you can survive without health benefits until you land a job, but there's no guarantee that an employer will offer health care benefits. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that only 60% of employers offer health insurance benefits to their employees. Furthermore, if you are lucky enough to have employer-based benefits, the plan may be more expensive and less comprehensive than an individual health insurance policy.
If you're a recent graduate in need of health care coverage, shopping around for an individual health insurance policy with InsWeb may be your best option. Young people are often given preferred rates on health insurance. Individual health insurance gives you more flexibility to choose from a wide selection of plans, and oftentimes provides the most affordable alternative to employer-based care.
Student Health Insurance Plans
Some university health insurance plans allow students to extend their student benefits beyond graduation. Applying to extend a student health insurance plan can fill the gap between graduation and the magnificent day your employer-based benefits kick in. Some policies limit benefits to full-time students younger than 30, and require students to apply a month or two before graduation, so check with your university for specifics.