Can I Get Affordable Health Insurance as a College Student?

If you’re a college student like the one in the post, you may be wondering how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affects you. The ACA has made health insurance more affordable and accessible for many people, including young adults.

What is the ACA?

The ACA, also known as Obamacare, is a federal law that was passed in 2010. The ACA’s goal is to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The ACA has made a number of changes to the health insurance system, including:

• Eliminating lifetime limits on coverage
• Prohibiting insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Providing subsidies to help people afford health insurance
• Expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income Americans

How does the ACA affect college students?

The ACA has made health insurance more affordable and accessible for college students in a number of ways. First, the ACA provides subsidies to help people afford health insurance. These subsidies are available to people with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). For 2023, the FPL is $13,590 for a single person. This means that if your income is $54,360 or less, you may be eligible for a subsidy to help you afford health insurance.

Second, the ACA allows young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until they are 26 years old. This provision can be helpful for college students who do not have their own income or who are not eligible for Medicaid.

What are my options for health insurance if I’m a college student?

If you’re a college student, you have a few options for health insurance. You can:

• Stay on your parents’ health insurance plan until you are 26 years old
• Purchase a health insurance plan through your school
• Purchase a health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace

If you’re not sure which option is right for you, it’s a good idea to talk to an insurance agent or broker. They can help you compare plans and find the one that’s right for your needs and budget.

How can I get help paying for health insurance?

If you’re struggling to afford health insurance, there are a number of programs that can help you. These programs include:

• Medicaid
• CHIP
• The Health Insurance Marketplace

To learn more about these programs, visit the website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

What should I do if I need health insurance?

If you need health insurance, the best thing to do is to shop around and compare plans. You can do this through the Health Insurance Marketplace or through an insurance agent or broker. Once you’ve found a plan that you can afford, you can enroll in the plan and start receiving coverage.

Don’t wait to get health insurance. If you get sick or injured, you could end up with a large medical bill. Health insurance can help you protect yourself from these costs.