Dear Reader,

A great many students (and parents) worry about health insurance coverage for job-hunting recent graduates. A number of options for you and others in this situation are available.

Continuation of your school's health insurance plan.

Some schools offer extensions of their health insurance plans, realizing that graduates seeking jobs have limited options. If you have been covered under your school's plan, you can ask about this possibility. Try contacting your schools' health service, registrar's office, or whoever administrates the insurance coverage for your school.

Columbia students can take a look at the Health Services website for specific information regarding arranging an extension of Columbia's Student Medical Insurance Plan. You can also read about this option in the Health at Columbia Guide to Insurance, available online or through the Health Services' Insurance Office.

Columbia students who had health insurance through Columbia University during their final semester as a student may opt to enroll in coverage Continuation Plan. Interested students must apply and pay for the continuation within 45 days after the expiration of coverage by going to Aetna Student Health for more information.

Continuation of your parents' plan(s).

Students who have been insured under one or both of their parents' insurance plan(s) may be able to extend that coverage past graduation. You can check with the insurance provider to get details on coverage for both yourself and any dependents. If you have an existing health condition you may be able to take advantage of COBRA, which would allow you to stay on your parents' policy for up to 36 months. Also, be sure to check your state's regulation since some states allow children to stay on their parent's plan for longer.

Buy coverage for yourself.

For those who have graduated and are not covered under their school or parents' plans, this might be the only option available for health insurance. You will have to do research yourself to determine what plan and provider is best for you. The guide from America's Health Insurance Plans is a helpful resource with which to begin your research. You can also take a look at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality consumer guides on choosing insurance coverage. These two resources give a great deal of information on the types of insurance plans out there, and help you to decide which plan is best for you.

Keep these basic questions in mind while thinking about insurance policies:

• Your budget: how much money are you willing to spend on your insurance policy? How much does each plan charge for monthly premiums and co-payments for services and/or prescriptions?
• What types of services will you need? Which are priorities? For example, you may want a plan that includes dental and vision coverage, or that may not be a big concern for you at this time. Take into account any chronic health conditions or on-going prescription needs you may have, and remember that insurance is designed to offset the costs of both expected, and unexpected, health care needs. Although it may seem unlikely right now, you want to be prepared in case of an emergency.
• How much freedom do you want in being able to choose which health care providers or specialists to see? Some plans are Fee-for-Service or Point of Service (POS), which means they offer you greater flexibility in choosing health care providers. Others, such as HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) or PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) have more restrictions. You may want to consider geographical convenience, areas of specialty based on your needs, and pre-existing relationships you have with any providers.
• What recommendations do your family, friends, and former health care providers have for you? Asking around could be of some benefit.

Researching insurance options can be confusing and daunting, but your choice can make a big difference when a need to use the coverage comes up. For people seeking individual policies, the self-employed, and/or people who have been denied insurance due to previously existing conditions, you may find the Health Insurance Resource Center to be helpful in locating affordable medical insurance. Best of luck in deciding which insurance plan meets your needs, and in finding a job!

Alice

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