Best Health Insurance for College Students
Blue Cross Blue Shield has the best health insurance for college students. BCBS makes it easy to get medical care no matter where you go to school.
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Best Health Insurance for College Students
ValuePenguin chose the best health insurance companies for college students by reviewing cost, coverage, network size and extra perks for major insurance companies. Our experts also looked at the cost and features of short-term health insurance companies and international student health insurance companies to pick the best options for those categories based on what students need.
The analysis was focused on features that are important for students, such as the ability to find covered medical care when you're on campus, at home or traveling within the country. Budget was also an important factor because many college students have tight budgets.
For more info about how ValuePenguin experts picked the best health insurance for college students, read the full methodology.
Best health insurance for college students
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has the best health insurance for most students.
Most doctors and hospitals take BCBS coverage, which means you can get medical care near your campus, when you're home and when you're traveling in the U.S. If you want a cheap plan, Kaiser Permanente is a good option. Everest and International Student Insurance (ISI) are good options for more specific needs.
Company | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Most students |
| Kaiser Permanente | Students on a budget |
| Everest | Short-term health insurance |
| ISI | International students | |
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As a student, your budget might be tight. But most colleges require you to show proof of health insurance to attend, so you have to get a plan. Nationally, 21-year-olds on their own pay an average of $374 per month for a Bronze health insurance plan, which is one of the most affordable plan options available.
Unless you have health insurance from your parents or a full-time job, you'll need to buy individual health insurance. You can get a policy either from a marketplace or directly from a health insurance company. You might also be able to buy a plan directly from your school.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS): Best health insurance for college students
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Editor rating
- Average rate: $379/month
A BCBS policy gives you access to doctors and hospitals at home and at school.
Pros
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Most doctors and hospitals take BCBS plans
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Usually has perks like telehealth
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Available nationwide
Cons
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Rates can be expensive
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Service and perks change depending on the company
Blue Cross Blue Shield gives students the flexibility to go to most doctors and hospitals.
This means whether you're on campus, visiting home or on a trip within the U.S., you can probably find a covered doctor or hospital near you. And if you've transferred to a new school, you'll likely be able to find BCBS coverage in your new area because the company sells plans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers benefits and tools that students might find useful. Each company will have its own list of perks, but some common ones include:
- A 24/7 nurse line
- Blue365, which offers discounts on gyms, weight loss programs and other wellness purchases
- Telemedicine
- A mobile app and a separate member website
- International coverage for those who travel, work or live abroad
Blue Cross Blue Shield isn't just one company. Each BCBS company is independently owned and operated. Some Blue Cross Blue Shield companies might have great customer service, while others have poor service. The same is true for extra perks; some companies offer more or better perks and some offer less. Always research the specific Blue Cross Blue Shield company in your area before you buy a plan to make sure it's the best fit for you.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans can also be expensive. The average rate for a BCBS Bronze plan is $379 per month, which is slightly higher than the national average of $374. The coverage and quality of plans is high, though, and the added monthly cost can be worth it if you think you'll need medical care often.
Kaiser Permanente: Cheap health insurance for students
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Editor rating
- Average rate: $315/month
Kaiser Permanente has the cheapest health insurance rates for college students.
Pros
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Cheap rates
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Excellent customer service
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Runs its own medical offices
Cons
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and Washington, D.C.
Only in 8 states
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Only lets you use Kaiser doctors, except in emergencies
Kaiser Permanente sells some of the cheapest health insurance for college students and can be an easy plan to use.
A Bronze plan costs $315 per month, on average, which is nearly $60 per month cheaper than the national average of $374. College students who need health insurance on a budget should get a quote from Kaiser, if they can.
You can only get Kaiser in eight states and Washington, D.C.
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Oregon
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
If you need a cheap plan but live or go to school in a state where Kaiser isn't an option, see if you can get a plan from Ambetter. Ambetter's average monthly rate is $346, which is still much lower than most companies.
Kaiser Permanente runs its own medical offices and hospitals, which has pros and cons. Getting medical care is often smooth because your doctor already works with your insurance. Plus, getting referred to a specialist or for testing is easy because everything stays within the Kaiser system.
But the downside is that you have to use Kaiser offices unless you have an emergency. If you have Kaiser at school but have no Kaiser medical offices near your home, you won't have coverage for medical care when you go home over the summer or for visits. You also won't have coverage when you travel around the country, except for emergencies.
Everest: Best short-term insurance
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Editor rating
- Monthly rate: Starts at $85/month
If you only need coverage for a limited period of time, Everest is a great option
Pros
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Covers preventive and wellness care
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Plans are customizable to your budget
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Coverage can start next day
Cons
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No coverage for preexisting conditions
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No vision, dental or prescription drug coverage
Only pays up to a pre-set amount
Everest's short-term plans let you go to any doctor when you need coverage.
If you only need coverage for a short period of time, like after you graduate but before you find a job, Everest can be a great option. Because there isn't a network of doctors you have to stay in, you have the freedom to travel for job interviews or move if you find a job in another state.
Although you can go to any doctor you want when you have an Everest plan, using doctors that are part of the Private Healthcare System (PHCS) network may be cheaper. Before you set an appointment, check with Everest to see if the doctor you want to visit is part of the PHCS network.
Everest lets you customize a FlexTerm plan to your needs, which means you can choose how much you can afford to pay for medical care. You can choose your deductible and coinsurance depending on how much you feel comfortable paying when you go to the doctor. The lower your deductible and coinsurance, the more you'll pay each month for coverage.
Coinsurance levels are shown as two numbers with a slash between them, like 80/20 or 70/30. The first number is the percentage of your medical bills that your health insurance pays after you reach your deductible, and the second number is the percentage you pay. So with an 80/20 policy, your health insurance company pays for 80% of your covered medical care and you pay for 20%, assuming you've already paid your deductible.
Deductible options
- $1,000
- $2,500
- $5,000
- $7,500
- $10,000
Coinsurance options
- 50/50
- 70/30
- 80/20
- 100/0
You'll also have to choose your maximum limit, which is the most that Everest will pay for your health care during your policy. The limits range from $250,000 to $1.5 million. After you hit that limit, Everest won't pay for any more of your medical bills unless you choose to continue the policy after your coverage ends.
Because Everest plans are short-term, there aren't a lot of additional perks, but a few features stand out.
- Coverage can last up to 12 months
- Next-day plans are available
- $50 doctor visit copay
If you're thinking about a short-term plan, make sure it will cover your health needs. Short-term plans are only a good option if you're in good health and don't need much medical care.
For example, short-term student health insurance from Everest doesn't cover most prescription medications, vision or dental care. There are also "waiting periods" on certain types of care, which means you don't have coverage right away. For example, you don't have coverage for illnesses that happen within five days of the policy starting, and you don't have coverage for cancer unless you're diagnosed more than a month after your policy starts.
Short-term health insurance also doesn't have to cover what are called "ACA essential health benefits," which include maternity care and prescription drugs. And most plans, including Everest's plans, don't have any coverage for medical issues you had before the start date, called preexisting conditions.
Short-term health insurance is often cheaper than other types of plans because it gives you less coverage. Everest advertises that policies can start at $85 per month. That's cheap, but keep in mind you'll get better coverage by paying more for regular health insurance.
International Student Insurance (ISI): Best health insurance for international students
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Editor rating
- Monthly rate: $29 to $178
ISI offers several plans with great benefits, like mental health, dental and physical therapy coverage.
Pros
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Multiple customizable plans
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Sells optional dental and vision coverage
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Covers preexisting conditions after six months to a year of coverage
Cons
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You have to fill out a form to use your coverage
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Doesn't cover you in your home country
International Student Insurance (ISI) gives international students lots of flexibility to choose coverage that works for them.
The company has four student health plans to choose from: ISI Protect, Student Secure, ISI Advantage and Patriot Exchange. Each plan has different levels of coverage, which means you have lots of options to choose from. Patriot Exchange, however, only has one level of coverage to pick from.
ISI Protect and Student Secure have good coverage but have options for people who don't need as much medical care. For example, the ISI Protect only covers what it considers to be normal charges for lab work and X-rays, called "usual, reasonable and customary charges." If you're charged an amount that the plan thinks is too high, it will only pay what it thinks is fair. You'll have to pay the difference.
ISI Advantage and Patriot Exchange are better options if you need more medical attention or if you want better coverage for peace of mind. Student Health Advantage covers up to the coverage limit for X-rays or lab work. Unless your labs or X-rays cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, you'll have enough coverage.
ISI's international student health insurance plans are structured in a similar way to short-term plans. Each plan has a deductible and copays for certain types of medical care, like office visits. The plans also have a per-injury or per-illness limit, which is the highest amount the insurance will pay for a particular injury or illness.
You'll also have a maximum limit, which is the most that ISI will pay for your medical care. Some plans, like ISI Protect, reset the amount if you choose to continue the policy after it ends. This is called a "period limit." Other plans, like Student Health Advantage, have a lifetime limit. Once you hit this limit, your policy won't pay out any more money toward your medical bills, no matter how long you have coverage.
One downside to ISI is that you have to manually fill out and submit a form every time you go to the doctor. You can fill out the form online, but it could still be frustrating if you need frequent medical care. And remember, you can't use your ISI coverage if you're visiting your home country. If you plan to travel back home, make sure you have coverage there.
Tips for buying student health insurance
If you decide to buy health insurance on HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace site, you should know a few things about buying health insurance.
When to buy a plan: If you are moving for school, you can get coverage at any time because you qualify for a "special enrollment period." Otherwise, you have to buy coverage between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15, during what's called "open enrollment."
What plan to buy: Marketplace plans come in five levels: Catastrophic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The lower the plan tier, the cheaper the monthly rate but the more you'll pay when you go to the doctor. For college students who are generally healthy, a Bronze plan is usually a good idea. If you want more coverage, consider a Silver plan.
How to save: If you make between $15,060 and $60,240 per year, you can get a discount called a subsidy on the monthly rate for any Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plan. If you're still listed as a dependent on your parents' taxes, though, the income limit depends on the size of your entire family and your whole family's income, even if you're away at school in another state.
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Other health insurance options for students
You often don't need to buy your own health insurance plan to go to college. There are several alternatives to individual health plans or short-term insurance policies.
Parents' insurance coverage
You can stay on your parents' health insurance plan until age 26. Before you decide to stay on your parents' plan, make sure it covers the area where you're attending school. If not, or if you have aged out of your parents' plan, you'll want to consider your options, like an individual ACA plan, Medicaid or short-term medical insurance.
School-sponsored student health plans
Some schools sell student health plans, and they can be an easy and affordable way to get basic insurance coverage. To qualify, you usually have to be a full-time student and use campus health providers.
The rate is usually part of your tuition and fees, so it'll probably be included in the rest of your costs for each semester or quarter. Or you may see it included in your student loan amount.
Not all student health plans are required to cover the basic health situations required by the ACA. With these plans, the school acts as the health insurance company and pays the claims for its students. These are called "self-insured" student health plans.
Each state has its own rules about self-insured student health plans. If your school has only self-insured plans, talk to them about what's covered. If the plan doesn't meet your needs, consider buying your own insurance.
Some student health plans come from regular health insurance companies. These are called "fully insured" plans, and they include the coverage that the ACA requires. If your school sells fully insured plans, you'll have coverage for at least these 10 medical situations:
- Regular doctor visits
- Preventive, wellness and disease management care
- Emergency services
- Lab tests
- Mental health and substance use care
- Hospital stays
- Prescription drugs
- Pregnancy, maternity and newborn care
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
- Rehab care and equipment
Employer-sponsored plans
Many people get health insurance through their job, but you usually have to work full-time. This is called group health insurance or employer-sponsored health insurance.
Employer health insurance plans generally provide good coverage at much cheaper rates than you'd pay to buy a plan on the marketplace, so they are a good option if you can get them. You usually have to be a full-time employee to be eligible, and it can be difficult to work full-time while attending school. But your employer might offer coverage to part-time employees as well.
Medicaid for college students
Medicaid is a form of government health insurance for people with low incomes. If you're a student who is part of a family that has a low income, or if you're on your own and have a low income, check to see if you can get Medicaid.
In most states, you can get Medicaid if you make less than $21,597 per year in 2025 as a single person. But in 10 states, the income limit is much lower.
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Mississippi
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
In these states, it's very hard to get Medicaid. Usually, adults don't qualify unless they meet another requirement, like being a parent or having a disability.
Short-term medical insurance
Short-term medical insurance can be a good option if you are generally healthy, on a strict budget and only need coverage for a short time.
But short-term plans don't have the same level of coverage as traditional health insurance because they don't have to follow the same laws. You can be denied coverage or pay higher rates if you have preexisting conditions, for example, like heart disease or diabetes.
Before you buy a short-term plan, make sure it's right for you. Think about how often you go to the doctor and how much money you can afford to pay for things that aren't covered. Even if you're on a budget, buying a more traditional health insurance plan is usually a better option.
You can't get short-term health insurance in some states. In some states, short-term plans are banned by law, while in other states, it's just that no companies sell plans.
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best health insurance for students?
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) sells the best health insurance for most students. Its plans give you the ability to get care no matter where you are. If you need medical care while you're on a school trip, visiting home or on campus, there's very likely a doctor near you who takes Blue Cross Blue Shield. But if you want a cheap plan, Kaiser is a better option. It's more restrictive than BCBS, but it's also much cheaper.
Do college students get discounts on health insurance?
College students can get discounts on health insurance from HealthCare.gov or a state marketplace if they meet the income requirements. If you're on your own, you have to make between $15,060 and $60,240 to get discounts. If you're at school but your parents still claim you on their taxes, you have to use your entire family's income to see if you qualify.
How much does student health insurance cost in the U.S.?
If you buy individual coverage, a Bronze plan costs an average of $374 per month for a 21-year-old student, although you could lower your rate with marketplace subsidies. If you have coverage through your parents' health insurance, you might not have to pay anything, or your parents might ask you to pay part of their monthly health insurance rate.
Methodology
Average health insurance rates were calculated using data from the public use files (PUFs) on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) government website and from state-run marketplace sites. ValuePenguin calculated national average rates for 21-year-olds based on the age curve variations published by CMS. Plans and providers for which county-level data was included in the CMS Crosswalk file were used in our analysis; those excluded from this data set may not appear. Rates are for a Bronze plan unless otherwise noted.
Rates for Everest and International Student Insurance are from marketing materials from each company.
Other sources for this article include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Everest, HealthCare.gov, International Student Insurance (ISI) and Kaiser Permanente.
About the Author
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
