Top Things to Know About Student Health Insurance

Students are required to have health insurance at most colleges and universities.  A number of schools offer their own mandatory student health insurance coverage that is included in the tuition and fees.  Coverage varies from school to school.  Some schools don't offer their own health insurance coverage and require students to obtain it on their own. 

Many schools offer a mandatory health insurance plan to their students, which is tacked on to student tuition and fees.  This type of plan often requires that the student health center on campus be used for the lowest deductibles and copays.  Coverage under this type of policy can often only be waived with proof that the student is covered by their own health insurance plan or a dependent on their parent’s plan. 

What is covered?

School offered health plans typically cover checkups, prescription drugs, visits to the student health center and sometimes visits to specialists, if deemed appropriate.  Not all plans cover emergency room visits and hospital stays.

Many schools offer a voluntary upgrade to the student health insurance policy for an additional fee.  Upgraded policies may cover a wider range of prescriptions and services outside of the student health center.  This promoted policy may also include dental and vision coverage. 

What if the college/university doesn’t offer health insurance?

Some colleges and universities, particularly smaller schools, don’t offer their own insurance policies, but still require students to have health insurance.  Students in this situation will have to find and maintain health insurance coverage on their own.  This can be done by:

• Enrolling in an individual health insurance policy that meets the schools coverage requirements.


• Asking a parent to investigate adding them as a dependent to their health insurance policy.


• Getting a job with a flexible schedule that they can work around their classes that offers health insurance benefits.