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• A higher deductible means lower monthly payments. On a health insurance plan, the deductible is the amount you have to pay annually (not counting co-payments) before your health insurance kicks in. Health insurance plans come with various deductible levels, ranging from $500 or less to as much as $5,000 a year. Typically, the higher your deductible, the lower your monthly payment will be.
• Location, Location, Location. While many states kick you off your parents' policy after you graduate from college, other states require your parents’ insurance to stick with you, sometimes until you're 26. To find out the rules in your state, visit the Kaiser Family Foundation Web site at statehealthfactsonline.org. You can also look up the rules on the Web site for your state's insurance commissioner at naic.org.
• Also, health insurance rates vary across much of the country. Ironically, cities that have higher costs of living often have cheaper health insurance rates. Each state has its own rules and regulations that affect competition among health insurance companies. So, when you’re trying to figure out where to settle down, make sure to check out the prices on health insurance before you move.
• TK. UGA also offers a voluntary short-term student health plan for an average of around $850 per semester. And if health insurance just isn’t an option, the Georgia Department of Health offers a range of services at free clinics in every county. For more information, visit publichealthathens.com or health.state.ga.us. To learn more about UGA’s student health insurance, visit hr.uga.edu/benefits/stuins/stuins.html.