Right now, young people who are between the ages of 18 and 26 have more opportunities to get health insurance than ever before. This wide array of possibilities might make it difficult for you to figure out what your best choice would be. There are both advantages and disadvantages that are connected with each type of health insurance. The more you understand about each option, the better you will be able to find one that is right for you.
A practical way to avoid getting in over your head from medical bills is to get a health insurance policy. Fortunately, people who are between the ages of 18 and 26 have the widest array of health insurance choices right now than this particular age group has ever had before. Which one should you choose? This largely depends on what life situations you have going on at this time.
Are you still in school? If you have not yet graduated from college, then it is very likely that you will be eligible for your university’s health insurance plan. This health plan is designed for students to use and it connects with your school’s health center or medical clinic. Those who live on campus will find it very easy to see a doctor when they get the flu or catch the virus that is going around the dorm. One problem with this type of insurance is that it will not cover students when the school is on summer or winter break.
If you have graduated, but haven’t yet found a job, then you may want to be added to your parent’s health insurance plan. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, parents can add sons or daughters who are between the ages of 18 and 26 to the parent’s existing health insurance policy. This gives the young person health insurance coverage without requiring him or her to pay for an individual insurance policy.
If you are living nearby your parents, (or with them), then you should be able to easily find a doctor that is connected to the network of your parent’s insurance. However, if you live across the country from your parents, you might run into a problem. No network access means you will be paying out of pocket for your medical care, even though you have health insurance coverage.
Another option is to get an individual health insurance policy. If you are reasonably healthy, have no chronic health conditions, and don’t require prescription drugs, then you may find a policy that has premiums that are affordable. The best part of an individual policy is that it stays with you, no matter what your employment situation happens to be. If you are someone who requires a lot of doctor visits, however, this option may be too expensive to consider.
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