North Carolina Law Updates
Going off to college is a huge milestone for both parents and students. It can be an exciting time, but it can also be nerve-wracking, especially when it comes to finances.
One of the most important things you need to do as a parent is make sure your child is properly insured while they are away at 
school.
In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of insurance coverage that are available and what you should consider before your child leaves for college.
Do college students need insurance?
There are a few different types of insurance that your college student may need:
Health insurance
This is one of the most important types of insurance for your child to have while they are away at school. If they are not covered by your health insurance plan, you may need to purchase their own health insurance policy.
Dental and vision insurance
These types of policies are not always required, but they can be very helpful if your child needs to see a dentist or optometrist while they are away at school.
Renter’s insurance
If your child is living in a dorm or off-campus apartment, renter’s insurance is a good idea. This type of insurance will protect your child’s belongings in case of theft or damage.
Auto insurance
If your child is bringing a car to college, they will need to have auto insurance. You may be able to add them to your existing policy, or they may need to purchase their own policy.
Costs and Coverage
There are a few things you should consider when you are looking at insurance policies for your college student: 
- The cost of the policy: Make sure you compare the costs of different policies before you make a decision. You want to make sure you are getting the best value for your money.
- The coverage: Make sure the policy you choose covers everything that your child needs. You don’t want to be stuck with a bill for something that isn’t covered by the policy.
- The deductibles: Higher deductibles usually mean lower premiums, but make sure you can afford the deducible if you need to use the policy.
Do you have a “Just in Case” plan in place?
If your college student gets hurt, do you have a plan? Are they covered by your insurance? Do you have a way to reach people?
Despite the ubiquity of of cell phones, it can be quite difficult to reach people in an emergency.
- Do you know the name and contact information of a roommate or friends?
- Do you have contact details for their parents?
- Have you provided your contact information to roommates and friends?
The bottom line is that things happen, and it’s important to have a plan in place in case something happens to your college student.
Things to consider other than insurance
Now that we’ve gone over some basics of insurance for your college student, let’s talk about some other things you should keep in mind when they leave for school.
One of the most important things you can do as a parent is stay involved in their life while they are away at school.
It can be tempting to give them their space and let them experience college on their own, but it’s important to stay in touch and be there for them if they need you.
Another thing to keep in mind is that college is a time when students are exploring their independence.
They may experiment with things that they haven’t tried before. That’s entirely normal. It’s part of the college experience.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy on you as the parent. In fact, it may be one of the hardest challenges you’ve faced thus far as a parent.
Just make sure you talk to them about making safe choices and staying safe while they are away from home.
Finally, don’t forget to have some fun!
College can be a great time for both parents and students. Enjoy this time in your life and make some great memories.
Have you thought about COVID?
What happens if your college student contracts COVID? Will the University or College take care of them?
What happens with their coursework and tests? Who will bring them food or medicine?
These are all valid concerns and it’s important to have a plan in place in case your college student contracts COVID while they are away at school.
The best thing you can do is talk to your child about what they should do if they get sick and make sure they have a list of emergency contacts that they can call if they need help.
You should also make sure that you know the policies of the University or College in regards to COVID.
Each school has different guidelines, so it’s important to be aware of what those are before your child goes off to school.
With a little planning and preparation, you can send your college student off to school with the peace of mind knowing that they are covered in case of an emergency.
Do your research, talk to your child about their plans, and make sure you have a plan in place so that everyone knows what to do if something happens.
You probably don’t have as much access to your child’s records as you may think
As a parent, you probably no longer have access to your child’s medical records if they’ve reached the “age of majority.” That’s 18 years old.
That can be a problem if you need to get information about their health or if they need to see a doctor while they are away at school.
It can be a tremendous problem if your child needs a prescription refilled in short order.
Talk to your child and their doctor(s) before they leave for school and make sure that they have all of the necessary information.
You can also ask the doctor to send copies of any important medical records to you so that you have them in case of an emergency.
Your child may need to execute something called a Medical Authorization and Release Form to do that.
You should also make sure that your child has a list of emergency contacts that they can call if they need help.
These should be people who can help them with anything they need, whether it’s a ride to the doctor or a place to stay if they get sick.
Making sure that you have all of the necessary information before your child leaves for school will help you be prepared in case of an emergency.
Wait, I pay the bills. Do you mean I don’t get to see their grades?
As a parent, you might be used to getting report cards and seeing how your child is doing in school.
That’s not the case in college.
Your child is now considered an adult, which means that their records are protected by privacy laws one of which is called FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
That means that you won’t be able to see their grades or get information about their coursework unless they give you permission.
You can talk to your child about how they want to handle sharing information with you.
Some students prefer to keep their grades private, while others are okay with sharing them with you on a regular basis.
The important thing is to communicate with your child.
What is FERPA?
FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. This act protects the privacy of student educational records.
Under this act, colleges and universities must have written permission from the student in order to release any information from their educational records.
That includes grades, transcripts, financial aid information, and more.
As a parent, you might not be able to get access to this information unless your child gives you permission.
It’s important to talk to your child about what they are comfortable sharing with you before they go off to school.
You should also familiarize yourself with your school’s FERPA policy so that you know what information is protected and what isn’t.
Sending your child off to college is a big step.
There are a lot of things to think about, and insurance is one of them.
Make sure you do your research and talk to your child about their plans so that you can be prepared in case of an emergency.
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