Health Insurance

There are several ways for law students to obtain health insurance, through a parent or employer, through the university, or through the Healthcare Marketplace.

Parent

Students under the age of 26 (or older depending on the state) might be able to obtain coverage under a parent’s health insurance plan.  Students who lose parental coverage when they turn 26 might be able to extend that coverage via COBRA, once they age out of their coverage. Check with the plan administrator for more information about continuing coverage through COBRA.

Employer

Students who were covered by their employer prior to starting law school, should check to see if they can extend that coverage via COBRA. Some students might find this option to be cost prohibitive, but it might be a good short-term option while they are searching for more affordable coverage. A student’s Cost of Attendance can be increased, if needed, for the cost of their health insurance premium.

University Plans

International Students

International Students are automatically enrolled in the International Student Health Plan. Premiums are billed each semester to their IU Bursar Account. As long as the student meets the eligibility criteria, coverage should last from August 1^st through July 31^st each year. DACA students are also eligible to enroll in International Student coverage.

Domestic Students

While some professional programs at IU mandate health insurance enrollment for their students, that is not the case for law students nor for many graduate students at IU. Some law students, depending on their award package, might qualify for IU’s Fellowship Recipient Health Insurance plan. About 10% of JD students qualify for this coverage, although fewer first-year law students are eligible. Law students who are unsure if they qualify for the Fellowship Recipient plan, should reach out to the law school’s financial aid office for more information.

IU does offer a voluntary health insurance plan that students may purchase and pay for directly. In addition, students may look to the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace to obtain coverage in Indiana.

HealthCare.gov

Many students who are not automatically covered by an IU plan, will need to navigate to HealthCare.gov to explore their health insurance options. Students who have a qualifying life event should be eligible to enroll outside of the Open Enrollment period.

Indiana Residents whose income is less than 138% of the federal poverty level, might be eligible to enroll in the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP.) HIP provides good coverage to low-income Hoosiers at an affordable price. Even though a student might be considered a non-resident for tuition purposes at IU, they might still be considered an Indiana Resident by the state. Students who are eligible for HIP should be automatically directed from the Health Care Exchange to HIP’s website when applying. Applicants who are not automatically directed to HIP but who think they might qualify, can visit HIP’s website directly for more information. While HIP coverage may not be as portable outside of Indiana as some insurance plans, this coverage should be much more affordable than most options you will find on the exchange.

The Healthcare Insurance Marketplace offers 4 levels of coverage, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Generally, enrollees who choose a plan with a higher monthly premium should have a lower overall deductible. Depending on your income level, applicants might qualify for an advance premium tax credit to reduce their monthly premium obligation. Various health insurance providers in Indiana offer qualifying marketplace options.

Obtaining affordable health insurance is very important. Students who need assistance obtaining coverage should contact a healthcare navigator, to help guide them through the process.