If you have a student in college, be sure to pay close attention to any medical insurance Explanation of Benefits statements that arrive in the mail.
I got my first one yesterday that demanded proof of my daughter’s college student status.
And I almost missed it.
Reason: both my husband and daughter had dental appointments recently and the EOBs were sent to me in the same envelope.
Husband’s statement looked correct, and his was the first page.
Luckily, I looked to see what was at the second page and realized that my daughter’s bill had not been paid. “See note” the comments said, with information farther down on the page. “In order to determine plan benefits on this claim, the following information is needed in writing. Is patient a full time student? Name and location of student’s school?”
Yes, I am faxing that information to the insurance company immediately.
Here’s the problem: many health insurance companies allow only DEPENDENT children to remain on the parents’ policy. The assumption is that once a child turns 18 or 19, depending on the company rules, the child is no longer dependent on the parents and will be dropped off the benefit plan.
Now, you may be allowed to keep a college student on the family insurance plan for a certain time. But in order to do so, you have to follow the policy rules.
Do not ignore requests for additional information in those situations, or your student may lose insurance benefits that they are still entitled to.
You also need to pay close attention to “full-time student” stipulations on this matter and also for college financial aid awards. If a student drops a class or two after the semester begins, he or she may not have enough credits to be considered a full-time student for that term. Part-time students sometimes do not qualify for the college student benefits, depending on the rules for individual programs and services.