college health insurance?

[Kim Clark]

US News & World Report is preparing an article about health insurance for college students. If you have any experiences or views you'd like to share about paying for a college student's care, (Is diabetes care handled free of charge at your student's campus clinic? Are you billed? Are you getting reimbursed by your family's plan?) contact
Kim Clark
US News & World Report
KClark@USNews.com
Thanks!

[OSUMom]

Kim, I have emailed you. Free health care at the on campus clinic? I don't think so! ;)

[OSUMom]

I did talk to Kim as she was preparing for her article. The piece is now written and available here for anyone who is interested.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2008/01/31/campus-healths-hidden-costs.html

[OSUMom]

For anyone who is really looking into attending college and the health care issue I thought I'd share some insights. Some universities include a "fee" in the general costs of attending. The student can go to the on-campus health clinic for what appears to be for free - but you are paying for it - it's in your quarterly/semester fees.

Some universities offer a supplemental insurance as noted in this article where Kim states hundreds of dollars and you have access to the on-campus clinic. Ohio State's supplemental insurance is $187 for the year - which is an extremely fair price in my opinion. We purchased this for Dean his first year - fresh off his Type 1 diagnosis. We wanted it to be easy and convenient for him to seek medical attention on campus.

This year we had a plan with a medical practice just down the street from his residence where they were in-network with our BCBS. Problem was we didn't establish him as a new patient at the beginning of the school year. Learn from our mistake - do this. So when he needed to be seen, they were not taking new patients. Dean's situation was not dire or anything (just some work for mom), we found another in-network provider, and he borrowed a car.

Especially for families with kids with Type 1 diabetes, when sending them off to college and when it comes to health care - visit the facilities (we did the summer before Dean began his classes) and plan, plan, and plan some more. :D