Though we are all at college to better ourselves for the future and adult life, the future isn’t as far away as we might think. Real-life issues, such as health insurance, affect college students more than we may know.

Since the presidential election, President Donald Trump has proposed that the Affordable Care Act be completely wiped out. With so much controversy surrounding the subject, it is easy to tune out the issues and pretend nothing is happening. How does it affect us as college students?

You are allowed to stay on your parent’s health insurance plan until you are 26 years old, even in the following circumstances:

• Get married
• Have or adopt a child
• Begin or depart from college or any type of schooling
• Reside with or apart from your parents
• Are not officially declared as a tax dependent
• Turn down job-based coverage

If you live in the same state as your parents, you can stay on their plan until you are 26 years old. If you do not, there are still options for you:

• Certain provider networks allow the coverage to be distributed to you if you are living in a different state than your parents while you are in school.
• Apply yourself through the university you attend in the respective state you live in for school. The cost of yours and your parent’s plan has the potential to be reduced in this situation.

There is an option that you can choose called the “Catastrophic” plan that affordably covers you in worst-case scenarios. This option is good for college students who are at low risk but still need coverage. This type of plan can cost as little as $50 per month.

No one knows what will happen until it’s too late. No one plans on breaking their leg or going out on the road looking to get in an accident. Bad things happen, and it’s easier to be safe than sorry.

Click here to learn more about the Affordable Care Act.