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Light shed on post graduation health insurance |
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a three-part series on health insurance.
by REBECCA GARDNER
Intern News Reporter
There comes a time in life when students will no longer be covered under their parents’ health insurance.
Students who graduate from college may not receive benefits that include health insurance from their jobs right away.
“It takes 90 days at most places and other places it can be as few as 30 days,” State Farm Insurance
office representative Aprile Beach said.
There is a general rule depending on if you work full-time or part-time, Appalachian State University
career development counselor Virginia Page said.
“It varies depending on where you are working and on the laws in the state or country you are working
in,” Page said.
Other options, such as individual and short-term plans, are available if health insurance is not included
in benefits.
“If you do not have insurance there is a short term plan that will cover you from the time you graduate
to the time you work,” Beach said.
If workers choose to change their jobs, their health insurance plans will change.
“Usually if you are on a group plan they have to offer you extended coverage,” Beach said. “It is
usually very expensive, but it varies company to company.”
In college, health insurance is generally not a problem for students because many students are
covered under their parents’ plans.
“Uninsured students can usually get a job where health insurance is offered and often times it is
usually better, cheaper coverage because there is a bigger customer base offered to the insurance
company,” she said.
As graduating seniors begin looking for jobs, some find obtaining health insurance challenging.
“I know I won’t be covered under my parents’ policy for very long after I graduate. If I don’t accept a job
with health insurance as a benefit or if I start my own business then I’ll have to find a policy of my
own,” senior computer science major Jeremy L. Booker said.
Booker says his biggest concern is finding a policy or provider that works well for him and is affordable,
meaning that he can pay reasonable rates to see the doctors he prefers.
From a student perspective, health insurance has other problems as well.
“While health insurance may be unaffordable for some and inconvenient for others, having the federal
government provide health care and pretending it’s ‘free’ isn’t the answer either,” Booker said. “In order
to get top quality health care, you have to find a way to pay the market price for that care, not the price
the government sets.”
In North Carolina, business owners are not required to provide health insurance but worker’s
compensation is required, Beach said.
“It varies company to company but students are covered as long as they are considered dependants,”
Beach said.
Like most products and services, health insurance is taxed.
You can pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, Beach said.
“Anyone qualifies for health insurance,” Beach said. “Some people may have serious medical
conditions and may not get a policy anywhere, but there are some providers that have to give them
health insurance but it will be really expensive.”
For the most part there are no other costs associated with health insurance.
“It is a flat rate that normally covers a one-year time span, and it usually goes up every year,” Beach
said. “Some companies give discounts if you haven’t filed multiple claims.”
There are thousands of health insurance plans, Beach said.
“There are individual plans, student plans, short term plans, etc.,” Beach said. “There are different
plans within those plans so you can decide what you want covered, not covered, dental coverage, etc.”
Students should be aware of their needs when choosing a health insurance plan.
“Just find the best fit for your budget,” Beach said. “You don’t want to not have enough insurance but
you don’t want to be paying half your salary either; even with a low deductible, it’s not worth it.”
There are also health savings accounts that can help students pay for health insurance, Beach said.
“As a Career Development Center person, I think it is critical to find out about all health insurance
coverage before working for a company,” Page said.
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