Affordable health insurance for students

Health insurance is probably one of the last things students think about before starting off for college. However, if you're a student and not covered by health insurance, you could be taking a big financial risk. Here are some ways to find affordable health coverage.

With all the expenses of college, it's easy to dismiss the added expense of health insurance. The question then becomes "Can you afford to not have health insurance?"

You may feel healthy now, but even a seemingly minor illness or injury could easily cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medical expenses. So how do you go about making sure you're covered?

Affordable health insurance for studentsFirst, if your parents have health insurance, see if you can be covered because you are a student. Many plans take children off of the policy once they reach 18, but will often keep the coverage as long as the child stays a full-time student.

Next, if you are a full-time student, see what plans your college or university offers. Plans may only cover catastrophic illness or injury, with limitations on benefits. You can also check with any association you might be affiliated with at school.

If you are working while going to school, check with your employer to see if they offer group coverage. If you are single without dependents this can be an affordable option for getting good coverage.

You can also check the costs of an individual health insurance policy sold by various companies. There are different plans available, offering different benefits. Plans that cover catastrophic illness or injury may be the most affordable.

An easy way to get some quotes for cost comparison is online. Individual companies offer quoting capability on their Web sites. Or, you may find it quicker to use an insurance comparison site. These sites allow you to complete just one quote-request form and then provide several quotes back from different companies or agents. This gives you a chance to compare costs and coverages, and see what's right for you.

If you find a quote you like and are thinking about buying, be sure to ask questions so you understand the coverages, deductibles, co-pays and other stipulations -- before you buy.