No longer under their parents wings, students who are graduating this spring must begin to think about finding their own health insurance.

Once a student graduates from college they are no longer covered by their parent’s health insurance, said Pat Jackson, service specialist for State Farm Insurance.

When students are considering a job offer, they should research potential employers’ benefit packages.

“Given the high cost of medical expenses and prescriptions these days, most people cannot not afford to pay the full cost for these services,” said Wanda Kellogg, program assistant for the human resources services department. “Medical coverage limits their liability, so it would seem reasonable to take this into consideration when looking at a future job.”

Some recent and soon-to-be graduates are worried about the economy and finding jobs. Although recent graduates who are unemployed will not have the same benefits offered through employment, there are things they can do to insure themselves.

“There generally are options for people in this situation to be able to continue the insurance coverage that they are currently on,” Kellogg said. “There are also what is called temporary insurance policies available for people in this situation.”

State Farm Insurance offers a Student Select Program, which requires students to enroll in the program while still in college, said Jackson. After graduation, the student can continue on the plan until the age of 65. However, once out of college, policy-holders must pay a semi-annual fee.

Having a health insurance policy can be very important to financial stability.

“[A health insurance plan] could keep you from going into the hole and paying of medical bills for the rest of your life,” Jackson said.

When considering an insurance plan there are certain aspects to look for, Kellogg said.

“The policy needs to meet the individual needs. For example, the needs of a single person would probably differ from those of a person with a family,” said Kellogg. “Also, their own individual health needs and history would be a consideration. “