When it comes to high quality of education, there is no place like the state of California. Its public educational system is supported by a distinctive constitutional revision that requires about 40 percent of its state revenues to be spent on education alone. California is the home of the pre-eminent state research university in the United States, which is the University of California. It employs more Nobel Prize awardees than any other educational institutions, making it one of the finest state-run university system in the world. That is why many aspiring students want to continue their college studies in the Golden State.

However, the growing number of students who want to finish their college on different educational institutions across California is also accompanied by the growing number of students who do not have any health insurance policy. It was found out based on the study funded by the Chickering Group and the Heinz Family Philanthropies in 2002 which shows that around 30 percent or 4 million college students studying in California do not have their own health insurance policy.

Furthermore, such study also established the pattern that students who do not have any health insurance policy have fair chances of finishing college than those students who were covered either by their parent’s group health insurance program or by their own student health insurance policy. Most cases of college drop-outs are found out to be financially incapable of paying off for their medical bills, thus dropping out of their classes to work and pay for such bills.

An uninsured student who has a limited budget may tend to miss his classes for several days and fail on some of their academic subjects due to a simple illness which can be easily treated by antibiotics. Moreover, such simple illness could not be treated because he cannot afford to visit a physician or pay for the antibiotics or other required medications.

That is why if you will ever pursue your studies in California, make sure that you are covered by your parent’s group health insurance program sponsored by their employer. In case your parents got laid off or lose their employment for other reasons, you need to purchase your own student health insurance to cover your medical expenses while studying in college. If you do not have the necessary health coverage, there are several options you can choose from.

Most of the colleges or universities in California (if not all) work with state-based and national health insurance carriers to provide affordable package for their students. In most cases, you can pay your premiums by taking out a few hundred dollars off your federal student loan or grant.

Another option is to have your parents accompany you to a private health insurance carrier and ask for some feasible alternatives for you. Since you are still young and well-fit, there is a high chance that you will be provided with health insurance package of lower monthly premium payments because you are on low risk for them to make health insurance claims during the policy term.

There is a bright future stored for you when you pursue your college studies in California. It will be even brighter if you have your own student health insurance that will cover your medical expenses while you are studying. It lessens both your parents’ worries on you as well as on your family’s finances.

A student’s life is full of adventure, happenings, and unpleasant events as well. Most students are not aware of the health hazards that they face while studying. They tend to live their life the easy-go-lucky way without taking into consideration their being ‘healthy’. In fact, most American students do not have a student health insurance; or is not covered by their parent’s health insurance plans.

Health-care costs nowadays are much too high, and sometimes impossible to reach. For a typical student who has to concentrate in his/her studies, worrying for their health is an added burden.

Colleges and universities strongly encourage their students to have a student health insurance. It is best if students can obtain a health insurance that can be used in the local area (or even overseas, if needed).

Most of the students are covered by their parent’s health insurance plan. But there are times when it is not enough. Somehow, they still need additional health coverage. Purchasing a student health insurance is the best option for them.

University/college programs for student health insurance are not that common. There are states which offer a mandatory student health insurance program.

Benefits are clearly defined in a mandatory student health insurance. These benefits include in-patient hospitalization, out-patient services, and surgical coverage. 80% of actual in-patient hospitalization expenses are covered, the maximum amount is $25,000. For out-patient services, it covers 80% of actual expenses and the maximum amount covered per accident or illness is $1,500. A maximum amount of $5,000 f is allotted or surgical coverage (80% of actual expenses is covered).

The primary intent in having a mandatory student health insurance is for students to have access to ‘quality’ student health insurance and to reduce the frequent utilization of free-care pool or the uncompensated care-pool by most students.

Since it is mandatory, it be often met by pros and cons, below is a list of the pros and cons of a mandatory student health insurance.

Pros - all students get a health protection - lower premium costs - students are made-aware of their insurance coverage - financial aid is included - students can concentrate more on their academic studies without having to worry of medical expenses

Cons

- the cost of ‘going to school’ is increased - slight inconvenience - identifying the need during registration - possible occasional-expense if the student’s insurance doesn’t meet the minimum requirements

Colleges and universities who sponsor the mandatory student health insurance automatically bill their students (part-time and full-time) for their individual membership in the student health insurance plan. It is a pre-requisite to be enrolled in the college or university.

If the health plan of the student’s parents has a comparable coverage, that student can request for a waiver from not joining the student health insurance plan. However, chances are the student will be denied the necessary health services if the parent’s plan is enrolled in an indemnity plan alone. Both the parents and the student should know this important fact.

The more the students who form a group for the student health insurance, the lower the premium, every student will be entitled to receive the necessary health-care needed and is protected from any financial disaster when they encounter an unexpected accident or illness.