Many colleges and universities offer student health insurance options, particularly if they require students to be insured in order to be enrolled. These plans are usually low-cost but very limited in coverage such as accident policies or major-medical policies. These policies are intended to protect you from financial ruin resulting from excessive medical bills in the case of an accident or other major medical event such as a serious illness.

If you already have coverage through your parents or an employer, purchasing a policy like one of these probably won’t be necessary. However, if you do not have those options available, student health insurance may be a solution for you.

Unlike employer-sponsored plans, students usually pay the full premium but these are typically kept relatively low because the coverage is generally provided, as much as possible, through campus student health centers. The American College Health Association (ACHA) standards recommend that student insurance plans provide appropriate coverage, which should include major medical coverage for illness and injuries as well as preventive care and mental health services.