COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When students head to college this fall, many will
be missing an item vital for their well-being -- a comprehensive, up-to-date
health insurance plan.
“College students are probably one of the most underinsured populations
in the country,” said Ted Grace, a physician and director of student
health services at Ohio State University.
Federal statistics show that people in the 18-to 24-year-old age group,
which includes many college students, have the highest likelihood of any
group to be uninsured.
Grace discussed some of the health insurance and health problems of college
students in a recent issue of the Journal of American College Health.
Many parents assume their health plans adequately cover their children
while at college, Grace said. Unfortunately, they’re often wrong.
One important factor is that the average age of college students has increased
to 26 years old.
“College students are increasingly older, but parents’
health insurance plans only cover their sons and daughters to a certain
age. Many students may not be covered by their parents’ insurance
and not even know it,” he said.
There are additional concerns for students who go away to college. Students
who are covered under their parents’ managed health care plans may
get excellent benefits in their home towns, but are not covered for medical
care delivered outside of the local service area.
Students’ basic medical needs may be met at the campus health center,
but this does not protect the students from financial hardships in the event
of a serious medical problem. “Parents often have a false sense of
security about how their health plan covers their children who are away
at college,” he said. “They need to check to make sure their
coverage is adequate.”
Health insurance is more important now than ever for college students because
of their changing demographics.
“Many people have this outdated stereotype of college students as
a robust, healthy group that we really don’t have to worry about because
they never get sick,” Grace said. “But the truth is that students
today are older and have more serious, chronic and catastrophic medical
problems.”
For example, older students are more likely to need treatment for chronic
medical problems, such as hypertension, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
In addition, students who suffer a major illness or injury will need more
medical care over their lifetime than would an older person. “When
a catastrophe occurs in a young person, you’re talking about a much
longer life span of supportive care. This makes proper insurance even more
vital,” Grace said.
The bottom line is that college students and their parents need to plan
early to make sure their insurance is adequate. “Perhaps no other
age group is so thoroughly misunderstood and overlooked when it comes to
planning and financing their medical care,” Grace said.
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Contact: Ted Grace, (614) 292-0110; Grace.15@osu.edu
Written by Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu