Graduated this year? Now it’s time for health insurance

Congratulations on your commendable success! You’ve met a milestone in your life. As a fresh graduate your next step must be achieving professional goals. If you are heading for a full-time job, you may get health insurance through your job. However, if getting a job is not on your ‘to-do’ list or you fail to manage with one right away, you still have options to get health coverage. Here are 4 ways you can get covered:

1. Stay within your parent’s plan: If you haven’t turned 26 yet, you may be able to get coverage under your parent’s health insurance plan. You can get coverage even if you’re married, not living or not financially dependent on your parents.
2. Get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace: Most of the Marketplace plans offer a comprehensive set of benefits - preventive care, doctor’s visit, hospital stays, and prescriptions. You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to avail private health insurance in the marketplace in case your student health plan is ending or your other coverages are becoming fruitless as you graduate. See if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
3. Get coverage through Medicaid or CHIP: CHIP and Medicaid offer health coverage to individuals, families, pregnant women, children, the aged with certain income and the disabled. However, in certain states the program offer coverages for all adults under certain income.
4. Get a catastrophic health plan: Individuals under 30 can opt for catastrophic health plan. This plan is very affordable for anyone who is willing to protect himself from scenarios like a serious accident or long term illness. Catastrophic health plans cover three primary care visits each year until you start your deductible, and also certain preventive care benefits.

What if you don’t have any health coverage? If you can afford a health insurance policy but you avoided deliberately, you may have to pay a hefty fee. Unfortunately, there is no special exemption for students.