As a college student, I know that back-to-school season is full of changes: getting used to your schedule, settling in to classes, meeting new friends. With all of the excitement, health insurance can easily slip through the cracks. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many young adults have one less thing to think about: their health insurance.
It used to be that insurance companies could force many teens off their parents’ plans when they turned 19. Now, if your parents’ plan offers family coverage, you can stay on the plan until you turn 26 – whether you’re in college or not. In Michigan alone, this means that 32,800 young adults will have coverage under their parents’ health plans.
Can you help us spread the word about how the Affordable Care Act is helping young adults in Michigan? If you know a college student or parent of a young adult, forward them this message and make sure they know about this new option.
Young adults need health care just like everyone else. Preventive care is vital for the long-term health of students. Sixteen percent of young people have a chronic condition – like diabetes or asthma – that can require expensive doctors’ visits. And then there’s the unexpected – a broken bone or serious illness like meningitis could break the bank if you don’t have coverage.
Aside from allowing students to stay on their parents’ insurance, the Affordable Care Act offers other benefits to insured young adults that include:
– No lifetime limits on benefits
– Health plans cannot limit or deny benefits or coverage because of pre-existing conditions
– Access to vital preventive services at no additional cost
Health coverage is critical to students’ health and financial security. That’s why we want to make sure students and their parents have the information they need to make the best choices. Below are two simple resources that highlight how the Affordable Care Act is expanding options for health insurance and making them more affordable:
Back-To-School Toolkit: Download the Young Invincibles Back-To-School Toolkit, which explains student options for health coverage in Michigan, including staying on their parents’ plans.
Know Your Care: Visit www.healthcare.gov to learn more about the various options for college students and young adults.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more students can protect their health and their financial security as they get started in life.