Health Insurance for students

Find health insurance coverage for college student

Health benefits your employees will love

Health Insurance for students

Find health insurance coverage for college student

Individual or short-term health insurance plans for students

Discover the multitude of health insurance options available while you’re in college. With over 3,600 plans from more than 16 reputable carriers, eHealth offers you a wide array of choices to meet your specific needs. Our platform not only provides access to these plans but also guides you in finding the best option, whether you’re seeking basic medical coverage or a more comprehensive student plan tailored to your requirements.

Student Health Insurance FAQs

The cost of school-sponsored health insurance plan will vary at every university. Students applying for their own health insurance plan can generally expect to pay a national average of $158 per month* for a short-term plan or $231 per month* for a major medical plan.

*This is based on recent average prices of plans available from eHealth, but actual prices available depend on zip code, age, gender, and other factors. Get a personalized quote to see what may be available for you.
College students can get health insurance in the following ways:
- Stay on a parent/guardian’s plan if they are under the age of 26
- Apply for their own private health insurance plan
- Apply for a short-term health insurance plan
- Sign up for a school-sponsored health insurance plan
Many students opt to stay on a parent’s plan or enroll in their own individual health insurance plan rather than selecting a school-sponsored plan. Applying for your own major medical or short-term health insurance plan will generally ensure you have the most flexibility and can still use your coverage when away from campus or your parents.
The best health insurance plan for you will vary depending on your needs. For example, if you only need coverage for one semester or one school year, you might want to opt for a short-term plan. These plans have flexible term limits, which can save you money, but these plans also generally provide less coverage (for example, preventive care, mental health, pregnancy, and other items are usually excluded from coverage by short-term plans) and have more limitations than long-term plans. If you plan to live in the city where you attend school year-round, a long-term major medical plan might be right for you. These plans offer much more comprehensive coverage options.
Certain colleges and universities require students to have health insurance coverage. Many schools offer a school-sponsored health insurance plan that the student can sign up for.

In many cases, if students decline the school-sponsored health insurance plan, they must provide proof of comparable coverage under another health insurance plan. Students who choose not to enroll in a school-sponsored plan may find coverage under their parents’ plan or by purchasing their own individual health insurance plan.
Most colleges require student health insurance covered by a major medical plan. College students under age 26 may be covered by their parents’ health plan as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
You can add or keep children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old. Children and young adults under 26 can join or remain on a parent’s plan while they are in college.
Students can stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until they’re 26 years old (even after they graduate). If you are not under your parents’ coverage, people who qualify can receive coverage for free or at a low cost via health insurance providers.

More frequently asked questions about student health insurance

Why get Student Health Insurance?

Lower prices

Deductibles & premiums can be less expensive than a having a dependent on a family or employer plan

Special benefits

More flexibility for health benefits most needed by students

Better coverage

Access to local clinics, behavioral services, and telehealth

Bigger network

Greater access to physicians and specialists

The importance of health insurance for college students

Students are generally required to have health insurance coverage. Students can shop for short-term coverage or for a major medical plan depending on their coverage needs. Short-term plans can offer temporary health coverage for a single semester or even the whole school year, but these plans generally only cover accidents and unexpected illnesses, not preventive care or items such as mental health or pregnancy, and they tend to have more limitations than major medical plans. A major medical plan offers more comprehensive, long-term health insurance for students. Both can be great options for college students as the plans may cost less than staying on a family plan. Always check the plan coverage details carefully to make sure you understand what is or is not covered by any plan you are considering.

In addition, an individual health insurance plan may provide better benefits. Since college students tend to be healthy young people, premiums & deductibles are often low. Getting an individual health insurance plan in college can also give you more flexibility with services and guarantees that you’ll have access to doctors in the area where your university is located. Short-term health insurance plans are not eligible for any government subsidies, but ACA-compliant major medical plans can be very affordable with government subsidies for those who qualify.

Individual health insurance for young people may also offer plans that give students access to bigger networks of doctors and specialists than many family or employer plans.

The benefits of student health insurance options

Affordable Rates

Students can get short-term coverage with low premiums and limited benefits or stay on a parent's plan, depending on their coverage needs.

Out-of-State Coverages

If you're going to school somewhere that your existing plan doesn't offer coverage, a short-term health insurance plan can help you bridge the gap.

Quick Approval

Short-term plans can offer quick approval so that you can get some coverage when you need it most with no waiting period.

Flexible Termsk

Short-term plans offer coverage for flexible time periods (up to a maximum number of months, depending on the state).

Explore Student Health Insurance Options by Age

Students under the age of 26

If you are a dependent under the age of 26 and living in the same state as your parents, you can be included in your parent’s application and added during the Open Enrollment period. Losing student health insurance may qualify you for a special enrollment period.

If you are a dependent under the age of 26 and living in a different state from your parents, you have two options:

You can apply for coverage with your parent or stay on their plan.
You can apply yourself in the state where you are attending school.

Some students may be able to apply for Medicaid or MediCal, depending on family income. If you are under 26 and attending college in a different state from your parents, you may still stay on your parents’ health insurance plan, but you must review the coverage documents to ensure that the insurer’s provider network extends to the area you will be living.

Students over the age of 26

If you are a dependent over 26, you have the same options above, however, you may be required to choose a separate plan because you are over 26. If you are looking for health insurance after turning 26, you are no longer covered on your parent’s plan, and you must choose your own health insurance. Once you turn 26, you qualify for a special enrollment period and may enroll in a health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

In both situations, it is a good idea to compare your family’s coverage vs. other health insurance options for students when it comes to local provider options, cost, and which plan provides benefits that the student is most likely to need.