RECENT COLLEGE GRAD? DON’T ROLL THE DICE WITH YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE

First and foremost, congratulations on finishing college! The world is, literally, at your doorstep. Of the many decisions you’ll be making in the very near future, choosing proper health insurance coverage may be one of the most important.

Under Obamacare, you have the option of staying on your parent’s insurance plan until you are 26. If you are fortunate to have found a job that provides healthcare coverage, it may be a better option for you to enroll on an employer-sponsored plan.

Whatever you do, don’t go without. Don’t gamble with your health. Don’t roll the dice on whether you’ll need health insurance coverage. Chances are that you will.

For those who are no longer eligible to maintain coverage through a parent’s health care plan, whose employer does not offer medical insurance or who have not yet found a job after college, you are not without options. The Health Insurance Marketplace opens October 1. It’s a place for insurers to compete for your business. In this case, competition is a good thing as it should mean better benefits and lower premiums to encourage buyers to enroll in the insurer’s program.

Insurance issues aside, one of the most important things you can do to minimize the possibility that you will endur a major medical event is to take care of yourself. Eat right, take the time to make exercise a part of your lifestyle and if you drink, do so in moderation. At the same time, don’t overlook your mental health. If you’re still searching for a job with great benefits, you’ll need everything you’ve got – including good physical and mental health – to propel you on your job search.

Source: Expert Beacon, “Recent college grads should understand their health care options“