College students try to get by without insurance
Claudia Buck
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: News
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Car insurance? "Got it."
Health insurance? "I stay away from sharp objects."
Renter's insurance? "I thought about it, but I don't have enough stuff to make it worthwhile."
Judging from that checklist, the 26-year-old Alvarez manages risk much like other college students do - by playing the odds that disaster will strike someone else.
But it's always a gamble. Last year, more than $9 million worth of personal property was reported stolen on University of California and California State campuses.
And an unexpected illness or injury can expose students to the draining costs of medical care. In California, state records indicate that a third of 18- to 24-year-olds have no health care insurance.
"An unforeseen illness could spell catastrophe for an uninsured college student and their family," said California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who recently urged college students and their parents to assess their insurance needs.
Because as everyone knows, the craziest things happen in college. Just ask Yubrano "Yubi" Alvarez, spokesman at CSI Insurance Agency, Inc., a Georgia company that specializes in policies for college students.
"We've had claims for alcohol being spilled every which way, damaging property," said Alvarez (who's no relation to David). "We've had kids drop their cell phones in the toilet. We had a student who set his laptop down on the street and his roommate ran over it."
If you're looking for college-student coverage, here's a rundown of how to get started:
Health insurance
Many family health care plans will cover a dependent child as long as they're enrolled in school or up to age 23. Check the details of your policy.
Of course, many college campuses have health clinics where students can drop in for routine care such as treating a sore throat or getting a tetanus shot. Student fees typically cover this service.
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