$photo1With less than a month left until graduation, seniors have three weeks of classes to go, three more weekends to go out with friends and, only three more weeks until their health insurance is gone.

The issue of health insurance coverage, or lack of it, is not always on the minds of soon-to-be graduates. With seniors focusing on securing jobs and enjoying the remainder of their college careers, this detail is often overlooked.

According to a recent Commonwealth Fund study, two of five college graduates will be without health insurance coverage at some point during their first year out of school.

A gap in coverage is not rare; the majority of insurance policies terminate coverage for dependents at either age 19 or when they are no longer full-time students. The often ignored fine print of new employee benefits packages can also lead to someone becoming a part of this statistic. Some companies have six-month waiting periods along with its benefits.

Despite the high number of uninsured graduates, there are several options available to provide coverage.

Temporary plans ranging from zero to 18 months are available to provide short-term coverage for a student between school and a job. These policies cost between $50 and $200 per month, depending on the deductible and benefits provided.

Jana Lynn Patterson, associate dean of students, said Elon is trying to make seniors aware of this option. She also said that an e-mail is sent out to all graduating seniors with a list of links to possible temporary plans. She cautions students to carefully examine the plans.

“The biggest thing for students is to always read over the brochures,” Patterson said. “Students need to be conscientious about exclusions to coverage.”

One issue with short-term plans is that most provide no coverage for pre-existing conditions. For some students like junior Ande Nicholas, this exclusion makes such plans a non-option.

Nicholas has pulmonary atresia, a heart condition that requires her to take several prescription medications each day. She is concerned about finding a job that will provide adequate health insurance.

“That’s a question I’ve got to ask,” Nicholas said. “I’ll need to work for a big company that’s going to be able to support my needs.”

For students like Nicholas, the best option for coverage between school and a first job could be The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. COBRA is a federal law that can extend parents’ coverage for their dependents for up to 36 months after the original termination date.

COBRA has no limitations for pre-existing conditions and there is no break in coverage. This option will cost as much as the parents’ current rate plus a 2 percent administrative fee.

This program is available to all students who currently have insurance plans through their parents. For those students without parental coverage, though, there is another option.

As a part of admission into Elon, all students are required to carry health insurance. The university provides a relatively inexpensive insurance plan for students that runs August to August if they do not alraedy have a plan.

ABCO100 charges $772 annually for the Elon plan which does not cover pre-existing conditions and has several other exclusions. It could, however, be a good option for a healthy student looking for basic coverage for a few extra months.

A&E Editor: Lesley Tkaczyk - Photos: Caroline Matthews 04/26/07