Affordable Care Act

[lola9900]

I'm not sure where to post this, so I thought I might post it here....  Does anyone know how the Affordable Care Act will affect school insurance?  Most (all?) of the schools I have applied to require students to purchase insurance.  Right now I have insurance that is much cheaper under the ACA.  Will I have to pay the student rate and opt into the school's system?  Is there a provision in the Act that limits your subsidy if you are a student??  Any information anyone has would be much appreciated. 

[Boba felt]

My friend works at a Big 12 University, specifically within the department that implements the school's healthcare plan.  The most basic answer is that it completely depends (unhelpful I know).  I believe you can get the same quality healthcare thru school or the marketplace, but you'll have to log onto the ACA website to confirm those costs.

 

In the broad sense, school plans were already ACA style plans....a large pool of relatively healthy members who spread a low risk, thus allowing very low premiums.  This means they have had to change very little to comply with ACA, as they were already very close to ACA standards. (most schools, i'm sure there are exceptions to this).  One big change is the requirements for dependent children, especially child dental, that had to be added to university healthcare plans.  While most students don't have young children, the ACA requires pretty stringent rules in regards to dependent children care and schools have had to quickly add these services to their plans.

 

So, if you're a student your income is probably low enough for you to qualify for subsidies for plans on the ACA website.  This could allow you to have free (or nearly free) healthcare for the next 3 years while those subsidies are guaranteed by the US government.  Of course if you live in a state with a Republican governor who turned down the Medicare expansion money, you most likely have a lot less subsidy money available and it will most likely cost much more.

 

If you're a phd student, you may have much of the healthcare cost included in a financial aid package, and therefore it would be the better option.  Schools will also be more likely to go to bat for you against the insurance company providing university coverage.  It is in their best interest to keep costs down for students and prevent some kind of PR nightmare where a student suffers due to an insurance company trying to not pay.  

[Boba felt]

you'll have to ask the school if they require you to use their healthcare plan, most don't.  I was working during my Masters and kept healthcare thru my employer.  But I wasnt a full-time student, and that may change the rules a bit.  I dont think the ACA has any restrictions against students, it's all based on income.  The school is the key issue, and you'll have to ask them.

[Lifesaver]

The cost of school healthcare I've been seeing has been in the neighborhood of $1,500/year. Are you really getting a cheaper policy from ACA?

 

 

Nevertheless, it has always been that if you can prove you have health insurance from another entity (private, parents, employer, etc), you do not have to purchase insurance from the school. I'd imagine it's the same way for those covered under ACA.

[lola9900]

Boba felt,

Thanks for your detailed answer; it sounds like I will likely have a choice of whether to join the school's system or ACA. As I only pay $25/mo under my current plan, I will likely stick with that (or something similar).