Individual Ohio student health insurance is extremely affordable and available from most  reputable health insurers. Premiums are usually less than $100 per month, and in some cases, significantly less than $100. Office visits and prescriptions are generally not subject to a deductible. Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, UnitedHealthOne, Medical Mutual and Humana currently offer the most competitive rates. 

Before determining which student health plan is the most affordable, it is important to understand the health insurance requirement of the college. Here in Ohio, each university has different requirements. Whether your child is attending Miami, Ohio State or Bowling Green, there will be slight differences in insurance requirements. With most schools, some office visit, prescription and major medical coverage will be required. You may also be required to select a deductible of $2,500 or less.

We'll carefully review the requirements of the school and find the private plan that provides the benefits that are needed. But we don't stop there. Many private student plans contain important coverages that university policies omit, and we feel it's important to have them included in the policy you select. 

There are advantages when you purchase your own Ohio medical  policy. Generally, your catastrophic coverage is significantly higher, since there is no lifetime maximum of covered benefits. Also, you are able to use off-campus medical facilities, giving you a much broader choice of options. Routine office visits, specialist visits and non-generic prescription coverage will tend to be more comprehensive under an individual plan. And this can be a big money-saver if you develop a condition that requires expensive visits to specialists and non-formulary prescriptions.

When you carry your own policy,  it's likely that your network extends throughout the entire country. So if you visit or vacation in another state, or even transfer to a different college, you can still keep your coverage. If you develop a serious medical condition such as cancer or heart disease, you can also keep your policy.

Student plans are also very flexible. Many different types of billing methods are available and a policy can be canceled without a penalty at any time. Most  Ohio plans are "PPO" based although a few "HMO" contracts are available. However, the "HMO" options may not be the best choice since coverage is limited to only portions of the state.