Student Health Insurance Options

What do I need to know about Health Insurance Marketplace?

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College students have several choices for health coverage:

A student health plan
If you’re covered by your school’s student health plan, in most cases you’re considered covered under the Affordable Care Act. You won’t have to pay the fee people without coverage must generally pay. Check with your student health plan to see if it qualifies as coverage under the health care law.

A Marketplace health plan
You can choose to buy a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Most people qualify for financial help to lower premium costs. Visit  HealthCare.gov to apply and find out if you can get lower costs for health coverage.

Coverage on a parent’s plan
You may be able to stay on or get added to your parent’s health plan until you turn 26.

Catastrophic health plans
If you’re under 30, you can buy a catastrophic health plan to protect yourself from the high costs of an accident or serious illness. These plans usually have lower monthly premiums, but high deductibles. You pay for most of your care yourself, up to a certain amount. After that, the insurance company pays its share for covered services.

Medicaid coverage
Medicaid is a combined state and federal program that provides coverage to people with limited income. When you apply for coverage at HealthCare.gov, you’ll find out if you qualify for coverage through Medicaid.

What if I don’t have health coverage?
If you can afford health insurance, but you don’t have it, you may have to pay a fee with your income tax return. There’s no special student exemption. However, you won’t have to pay the fee if you have a limited income and you don’t have to file a federal tax return.

For more information, visit HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.

4 Ways to get Marketplace Coverage

1. Online: Visit Healthcare.gov to apply and enroll on the Web.

2. Over the phone: Call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. A customer service representative can help you apply and enroll over the phone.

3. In-person help: Get help from people in your community trained and certified to help you apply and enroll in the Marketplace. Visit Local help. HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center.

4. Paper application: If you don’t have a computer or time to apply and enroll over the phone, you can fill out a paper application. Call the Marketplace Call Center to get an application or download a copy from HealthCare.gov.

The University System of Georgia offers a healthcare option for Graduate Research Assistants. This option is in addition to the Student Health Insurance coverage offered through your institution. Under this healthcare plan, you have the option of covering (1) yourself, or (2) yourself and any eligible child dependents. Spousal coverage is not available under this plan, therefore, family coverage under this plan includes you and your dependent child or children. Upon enrollment, participants will receive one ID card with both the medical and pharmacy plan coverage verification information. If you have questions about your eligibility or enrollment in this plan, please contact the OneUSG Benefits Call Center at 844-587-4236.

Enrollment Dates
January 3-31, 2022

PLAN INFORMATION

See the Summary of Plan Benefits for the GRA Healthcare Plan and a comparison of the GRA Plan to the Student Healthcare Insurance Plan.

• SHIP and GRA Plan Information

For general questions regarding the GRA Healthcare Option please call the Benefits Office at (404)413-3330.