It is important to stay insured between being a full-time student and getting a job that may offer insurance benefits. There are a few options that provide short-term coverage for graduates in that situation.

Before you graduate, one option is to purchase a student health insurance plan which provides coverage beyond graduation. It is available to full-time students under age 30 but usually requires purchase at least 31 days prior to graduation. These policies do not cover pre-existing conditions for a year, nor do they pay for pregnancy or prescription drugs. An advantage of these plans is that they are generally inexpensive compared to short-term policies and can be renewed as long as premiums are paid.

Another option is a short-term health insurance policy. Like the student health insurance plan, these policies do not cover pre-existing conditions for a year, nor do they pay for pregnancy or prescription drugs. Also, these plans require that you get advance authorization for hospitalization or outpatient surgery. Six months of coverage is usually adequate and many can be cancelled at any time and will pay a pro-rated refund.