Health Insurance for Students...

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Hi, I was just wondering what everyone here does for health insurance (those that aren't on their parents' or spouses). After I turned 22 a few months ago I was taken off my parents insurance policy. For them to add me, it would have cost about $500/month, which is way out of my meager budget. So I signed up for the student health insurance (by Atena, it still wasn't cheap), which isn't so great-- they will not even pay for the yearly gyn exam or my asthma doctor visits (very seldom I go but I really need to)!!!

Until this year I was unaware of the realities of health insurance, it's really frightening. I was extremely naive about how expensive health care is. I have several friends who have no health insurance (sadly enough, this is in one of the top 5 richest counties in the US--how bad is it elsewhere?). :uhoh3:

What does eveyone else do for health insurance while you're in nursing school? Could anyone recommend a decent plan-- maybe $300/month max?

The asthma thing is killing me!

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Specializes in Nephrology.

Good question. I would like to know as well. I have several issues with my thyroid and have paid immensely for it since school started....it's ridiculous...We can't afford for me to be on my husband's insurance and any kind of private insurance is insanely expensive...:uhoh3:

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It's so aggravating! I hope you can find something though.

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Specializes in Nephrology.
It's so aggravating! I hope you can find something though.

It's just not right.....I hope we both can find something! I didn't think to ask in here! I bet SOMEONE has got a good solution! Thank you for posting the question!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

See if your state offers individual coverage provided by the carriers. Another option is to get a major med policy and pay out of pocket for routine care. State Farm used to have a reasonably priced major med policy. Call a couple of insurance agents in your area and see what they have for a preexisting condition.

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You got kicked off at 22??? Wow.....my husband's insurance as well as the one I have until the end of this month covers our kids until they're 25 as long as they're full time students. They each have their own policies through their jobs but the coverage isn't great; we're able to keep them on our policies as secondaries as full time students.

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My husband and I maintain it for our twins...until I can work again, we are just praying we stay healthy and we are cutting deals with doctors, and they will do this, if you pay cash.

My general practice physician used to bill my insurance for $250 for an office visit....she charges me only $60 if I pay her directly.

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.

My mom just put me back onto her health insurance after I left the Army. I'm covered till I'm 25 so 6 more months. All I had to do was fax her my college schedule. After 6 mths I will see if I can get blue cross blue shield since I have some things covered from VA for my disabilities, but not for anything current or new.

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i don't know if there are any good answers to this question, i can't find anything for a reasonable amount that will cover pre-exisiting conditions till at least 6 months to a year after coverage start....

i am currently without coverage, which is downright terrifying... i think i'm just going to get major med and continue to pay out of pocket for the rest, i was using the health insurance NSNA offered, but i was disatisfied with it.

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Specializes in Neuro.

I managed to find an insurance agent to help me find an individual plan that worked for me. I wound up with a pretty good deal, really. I pay about $200 quarterly for an individual plan through United HealthCare and it does cover yearly office visits, including gyn visits. You may end up paying a bit more because of the asthma, but it IS possible to find kind of almost affordable health care on your own.

There are lots of sites that will compare insurance rates for you, or try going to the websites of big insurance companies in your area and see if they offer individual plans.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
My general practice physician used to bill my insurance for $250 for an office visit....she charges me only $60 if I pay her directly.

There's something not right there. :uhoh3: Even my transplant surgeon doesn't charge $250 for an office visit.

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I managed to find an insurance agent to help me find an individual plan that worked for me. I wound up with a pretty good deal, really. I pay about $200 quarterly for an individual plan through United HealthCare and it does cover yearly office visits, including gyn visits. You may end up paying a bit more because of the asthma, but it IS possible to find kind of almost affordable health care on your own.

There are lots of sites that will compare insurance rates for you, or try going to the websites of big insurance companies in your area and see if they offer individual plans.

This is probably a dumb question, but how do you find an insurance agent? And does it cost anything to talk to one?

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