Adult Children & Health Insurance

If you have an adult child aged 18 or older who is or will be enrolled in a course of study at an institution for higher education such as a college, university, or vocational school, it is critical that they are receiving student health insurance. Maintaining health insurance coverage for your child should be done and whether you need to purchase student health insurance depends on your current health insurance situation. If you currently have a family plan in good standing, most health insurance plans allow you to keep your adult child on your plan as long as he or she is enrolled in school at least part-time or until age 21, whichever comes first. You should contact your existing insurance company to see if this is possible. If it is, you will probably have to furnish proof of enrollment to the insurance company. But that's pretty simple. Most companies only require you to complete a form indicating the school at which your child is enrolled and the expected graduation date. However, this paperwork usually needs to be completed each year on or before your child's birthday. Some companies send the form out automatically. Others do not. It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure the paperwork is completed on time. If your child is not eligible for coverage under your existing plan or you do not have insurance yourself, you should definitely consider purchasing student health insurance for your child to cover things such as sports-related injuries and common illnesses that tend to spread quickly in college dorms.