If you’re getting ready to head back to college, don’t forget about putting one of the most important things on your college must-have list: health coverage.

Getting health coverage may be easier and cheaper than you think. And as a college student, you have several options:

• Student health plans may be available if you’re in college. If you’re covered by your school’s student health plan, in most cases, you’re considered covered under the health care law and you won’t have to pay the fee that people without coverage must generally pay.
• You may be able to stay covered under your parent’s health plan until you turn 26.
• If you’re under 30, you can buy a Catastrophic health plan to protect yourself from worst-case scenarios.
• You can enroll in a 2016 Health Insurance Marketplace plan starting on November 1, 2015. Most people qualify for financial help to lower premium costs. All Marketplace plans must cover essential health benefits and may even offer other benefits, like contraceptive services. They’ll also help protect you from high costs if you have an accident or get sick.
• You may qualify for Medicaid, a combined state and federal program that provides coverage to people with limited income. When you apply for Marketplace coverage, you’ll find out if you qualify for coverage through Medicaid.

School can be stressful enough, so give yourself the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance. For more information, visit http://ift.tt/1LocubJ.

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Summer is the most popular season for moving. But there are some things you can’t pack in boxes — like the peace of mind you get from having health insurance.

Moving can be stressful, but enrolling in a health plan that suits your new life doesn’t have to be. If you’re moving, whether out of state or within your current state, you may be able to get Marketplace health insurance coverage with a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). This means you can enroll in or change your plan outside the annual Open Enrollment Period. In most cases, you’ll have 60 days from your move date to enroll in new coverage or change your plan.

Depending on where you move, you may have new options, prices, and savings available to you.

Not sure if you qualify? Answer a few quick questions and we’ll tell you if you qualify and explain how to apply and enroll.

Note: Moving isn’t the only life change that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period. You may also be eligible if you’ve experienced other life changes — like if you got married, had a baby, or lost coverage you had from your job.

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No one plans to get sick or hurt, but most people need medical care – like a doctor visit, a prescription drug, a lab test, physical therapy, or counseling – at some point. These services can be expensive.

And if something happens that requires surgery or emergency medical care, it’s really important to have coverage. Fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500, and the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000.

The Health Insurance Marketplace offers a variety of high-quality health coverage choices for routine and non-routine medical services that can work for your family and budget.

Benefits even before you meet your deductible

• In the Marketplace, all plans cover some services – like preventive care and well-woman visits – for free.
• Some plans offer other health insurance benefits – like reduced price generic drugs and free disease management programs.
• If you get medical services from a provider in your plan’s network, you’ll pay lower prices than you would without insurance. That can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

What Marketplace health plans cover

One of the benefits of health insurance through the Marketplace is that all health insurance plans cover the same set of essential health benefits, even for a pre-existing health condition. In addition to coverage for doctor visits, lab tests, hospitalization, surgery, and emergency care, here are a few more:

• Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care before and after your baby is born. You get this coverage even if you were pregnant before your coverage starts. Most plans also provide breastfeeding benefits.
• Preventive services for adults, children, and women. Women’s preventive services include well-woman visits and contraceptive care.
• Mental health and substance abuse services, including behavioral health treatment like counseling and psychotherapy
• Prescription drugs

Additional coverage

There may be additional benefits of health insurance through the Marketplace, like plans that offer dental and vision coverage, and coverage for chiropractic or acupuncture services. You’ll see exactly what each plan offers when you compare them side-by-side in the Marketplace.

For more information, visit http://ift.tt/1JS5FjG.

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