Contact: Yeraldin
Deavila, Public Information Officer
Phone: (775)
687-0772
E-mail: ydeavila@doi.nv.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE– August 18, 2015
College Checklist
Must Include Insurance Coverage for Students
Carson City –
Classes will soon be in session for many college students in Nevada. While it
is an exciting time for students, it may be nerve wrecking for some parents sending
their kids off to college. To help parents rest easier, the Nevada Division of
Insurance encourages parents to review their insurance policies to ensure their
college student is adequately protected against the unexpected while at school.
“The most important piece of advice we can share with
parents with kids going off to college is to check with their insurance agent
to discuss the type of insurance and the level of coverage their students will
have once they are in school,” said Acting Insurance Commissioner Amy Parks. “Doing
this may help parents and students be more financially protected.”
Health Insurance
Before your student heads off to college, it may be a good
idea to talk to them about health insurance. Because of the Affordable Care Act
(ACA), college students may remain under their parent’s health insurance policy
until they are 26 years old. If this is the case with your family, before your
student leaves home make sure they take with them a copy of their insurance
cards and are familiar with “in” and “out” of network providers in the area
where they are attending school.
Make sure the student knows if your insurance policy is a
preferred provider organization (PPO) or a health maintenance organization
(HMO). In the case where they are insured under a PPO plan, your student may be
able to see an “in network” physician even if they are attending school outside
of Nevada. Seeing an “out of network” physician will cost you more out of
pocket.
If you are insured under an HMO plan, you should verify that
your student’s providers are within its network service area, otherwise they
may need to travel elsewhere to get routine medical attention that is covered
under the plan unless there is an emergency.
If your family chooses not to keep your student on your health
insurance policy until they are 26, your student may have the option to apply
for a health insurance plan through the Federal Marketplace. Depending on the student’s
income, they may be eligible for lower monthly premiums, Medicaid, or other
savings.
Another option available to students is the purchase of a
health insurance policy through the college or university they are attending.
Some universities such as the University of Nevada in Reno and Las Vegas offer
ACA compliant policies. For more information on these policies you may visit www.unr.edu/shc or https://www.unlv.edu/srwc/health-insurance
Please keep in mind if your student does not have medical
insurance they may face a penalty under the ACA for not being insured.
Home/Renters
Insurance
Some college students may decide to live in their college
dorms. If this is the case, check with your insurance agent to verify if your
homeowner’s insurance policy will extend to your student’s belongings in school
and what the coverage limit is.
In your student is living off campus, please keep in mind
that the landlord’s insurance policies typically only protect structural damage
to the building, not your student’s personal belongings. In this scenario, your
student may want to consider purchasing a renters insurance policy. Renters
insurance may not only cover your student’s personal property inside the rented
property, or stolen from their vehicle, or taken from their backpack while they
are studying on campus, but may also
cover additional living expenses if the rental unit becomes temporarily uninhabitable.
A Personal Umbrella insurance policy covers liability to others if you or your
student are determined to be liable for injuries to others or damage to other’s
property.
It is always a good idea to conduct a home inventory and
document all of the student’s property. A home inventory list will help the
student and the parents know how much insurance you need in the event you need
to file a claim. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has a free
smartphone app that makes a home inventory easy. You will find the iPhone
version here
and the Android app here.
Auto Insurance
If your student is taking a vehicle to school, check with
your auto insurance agent and inquire about the insurance premiums in the city
or state where they will be attending school because moving to a different
location may have an impact on your auto insurance premiums. Also, check with
that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles about that state’s vehicle registration
requirements and minimum required liability insurance laws. Registration
requirements in another state may require purchasing an auto insurance policy
issued in that state by an insurer licensed in that state. Remember to notify
the insurance company each semester if your student maintains good grades as
this may qualify the student for a good student discount.
About the Nevada
Division of Insurance
The State of Nevada Division of Insurance, a division of the
Nevada Department of Business and Industry, protects the rights of Nevada
consumers and regulates Nevada’s $11.9 billion insurance industry. The Division
of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. In 2014, the Division
investigated more than 2,800 consumer complaints and recovered nearly $4
million on behalf of consumers. For more information about the Division of
Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV or download the Division’s smartphone app NDOI
Connect today in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
###
