Ohio Individual Health Insurance – Tips for Students and College Graduates

You are a young, healthy adult living in Ohio. You may ask - why health insurance? The reason is that regardless of how physically fit you are, an unexpected illness or injury could put you in a lot of financial trouble. So even if you are young and in good shape, you need to think about finding affordable Ohio individual health insurance. Read on to know your options and for some tips to stay covered.

• Coverage through your parent’s health plan: Health care reform allows young, unmarried dependents to stay on a parent’s health plan until age 26. This is convenient, but if you are planning to move to another state, your benefits might be reduced. Also, this coverage is available only till you get employer-based coverage.

• Coverage through an Ohio student health insurance plan: If you are just out of school and joining a college outside your state, you need to think about a getting an affordable student health insurance plan as your parent’s plan wouldn’t cover you. Remember that the plan that your college offers wouldn’t cover you if you are a part-time student or if you live off campus. Buying an Ohio individual health insurance policy on your own would cover you all year, even during your holidays. It will also ensure coverage for prescriptions.

• Affordable individually-purchased health insurance: Affordable Ohio health individual insurance plans are available for healthy young adults. Health care reform has eliminated lifetime coverage limits and improved access to many preventive medical services. Contact an experienced, licensed Ohio health insurance agent to get free quotes, and expert advice to compare plans and choose the right one.

• Coverage through a short-term plan: If you are looking for a job, or have just found one and are waiting for job-based coverage to start, you could think about getting an Ohio short-term health insurance plan. Coverage is for one to eleven months. Preventive care, prescription drugs, or pre-existing medical conditions might not be covered. This type of plan is very inexpensive, but it can protect you in case of unexpected accident or illness.

• Employer-based coverage: Ohio health insurance through your employer is ideal because it comes with many benefits. Check out the HSAs and FSAs that your employer may offer as these are plans that allow you to save for health care on a tax-free basis. You can add on supplemental insurance for accident and/or critical illness insurance with a high deductible health insurance plan. Job-based coverage cannot be refused because of a pre-existing condition. You share the monthly premium with your employer. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey reported that in 2011, the cost of single-person coverage under employer-sponsored health insurance was approximately $446 per month. Out of this, the employee’s share was only about $78.

Everyone is awaiting the Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the health care reform law. Keep yourself informed about the changes that are taking place and how they could affect your Ohio individual health insurance options.