Health Insurance Proper insurance coverage for college-bound children Written by: Michelle Megna Michelle Megna Michelle, the former editorial director, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News. | Reviewed by: Ashlee Tilford Ashlee Tilford Ashlee, a former managing editor, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a journalist and business professional. She earned an MBA in 2014 with a concentration in finance. She has more than 15 years of hands-on experience in the finance industry. | Posted on December 7, 2009 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. Last updated Aug. 23, 2010 Continued from page 1 Health insurance companies must allow your dependents to remain on your plan until age 26. However, your children could still find themselves without health insurance coverage — even if they are below the cutoff age. If you have a managed care plan, such as an HMO, it will have geographical doctor-network limits. That means the health plan might be worthless far away from home and away from the plan’s network of providers. If the doctor is not in the HMO network, routine office visits will not be covered. When you are outside your HMO’s network, the only medical care likely covered is emergency room treatment. Another option is student health insurance offered through your child’s college or university. See health plans for college students. While college health plans are generally affordable, the benefits vary greatly among schools. In addition, there are plans that will not cover students who are injured while playing college sports and others require supplementary insurance specific to college athletes. Related Articles Health plans for college studentsThe basics of renters insurance Michelle MegnaContributor   . .Michelle, the former editorial director, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News. Related Articles Common COBRA problems and what to do about them By Huma Naeem Emergency room care: Know your rights By Shivani Gite When to reject the health insurance plan at work By Erik Martin How to buy individual health insurance By Nupur Gambhir How to get your health insurer to pay for your weight-loss or bariatric surgery By Susan Manning A complete guide to short-term health insurance By Shivani Gite Get instant quotes now ! Please enter valid zip Get quote