For those of us who lived through the presidential election of 2016, it may have been the first time we truly paid attention to politics or got involved.
You may have felt empowered by listening to politicians speak on topics that meant something to you, while other topics may have overwhelmed you.
It’s easy to hear someone say that something is important, but if you’re not interested in how that thing works, it’s hard to understand how change can happen and how it will affect you.
One of the most hotly debated topics that are difficult to understand is health insurance.
There’s a lot to work on in the healthcare system to make it equally accessible and advantageous for all the social classes, and action has already been taken in the past year to try to change the system.
While not much has changed for 2018 -- other than the number of people who became uninsured -- 2019 isn't looking so promising.
Here are a few things to know about your health insurance before next year's enrollment period comes around.
1. You can still stay on your parent’s plan
Something the Obama administration enacted was a health insurance rule that said individuals could stay on their parent’s insurance plan up to the age of 26.
This new rule means that unless you’re turning 26 this year, you have the option to talk with your parents about staying on their plan. You won't have to worry about finding a new doctor or paying monthly fees out of your own pocket.
It's worth a conversation since any money a student can save can be put toward books or groceries instead.
2. School-sponsored health plans are automatic
If you’re already enrolled in college, you probably already have school-sponsored health insurance applied to you.
Some colleges automatically assign the health insurance they’ve partnered with to the students who are enrolled and provide the option for those who don’t need it to waive it.
The plans and providers differ for every school, so talk with a staff member at your student health services office to find out if it’s right for you. They’ll be able to explain what their plan offers and how much it’ll cost you.
Just make sure your school can confirm this. You don't want to assume you have health insurance through your school only to find out later that this isn't the case.
3. Short-term coverage is available
The biggest change the Trump administration has been able to make to healthcare is dividing it up into two pools, creating a short-term coverage option for healthy people.
These plans are cheaper than traditional plans, but it’s because they aren’t required to cover the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits list. Make sure any of your personal health needs aren’t on this list before signing up for short-term coverage.
You should also be aware that cheaper plans will require you to pay more up front. As a student, you might not have much extra money lying around.
Evaluate the risks you run by having cheap insurance — would you be able to pay for a hospital trip after a car crash or food poisoning from bad cafeteria food? It’s better not to risk anything and instead go with insurance that will cover you in the long run.
Stressed yet? Reading about health insurance options probably has you feeling overwhelmed, and that’s okay! It’s a lot to consider, especially as a student who has a million other things going on with school and work.
Furthermore, if you're someone with a disability who needs to be on Medicare, you likely have additional insurance and billing needs that need to be taken into consideration.
Make sure you take your time to read up on your health insurance options each year to make sure you're on the best plan for you. And, although it can be hard, try not to stress about your insurance too much.
