About the CRL

Getting Started

• Career Resources By Major or Field
• Graduate School Planning
• Resumes and Cover Letters
• Job Hunting Online
• Get Help from a Librarian
• Workshops and Instruction

• Resources for:
  • New Graduates
  • Undergraduates
  • Graduate Students
  • Alumnae/i
  • Faculty and Staff
  • International Students
  • Jobseekers with Disabilities
  • ALANA (African, Latina, Asian, Native American) Jobseekers
  • LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Jobseekers
  • Women and Careers

Career Resource
e-Library

Choose your resource Career Exploration Career Search dbase Company/Ind. Research Fellowships and Grants Gap Year Grad School Planning Internships Internships USA dbase International Study International Work Interviewing Job Search Tools Networking Job Hunting Online Get Help from a Librarian Relocation Resources for Alumnae/i . . . for Career Changers . . . for Faculty & Staff . . . for Graduate Students . . . for Undergraduates . . . for International Students . . . for Jobseekers with Disabilities . . . for ALANA Jobseekers . . . for LGBT Jobseekers . . . for Women and Careers Resources by Major/Field Resumes & Cover Letters Salary Information Self-Assessment Transitions (new grads) Vault for students/staff Vault for alumni Workshops and Instruction

Library Catalog

• Search here for Career Books and more*
  *For a list of all books in the Career Resources Library, search by Non-LC call number and enter "CRL."
• Suggest an item for CRL

Related Resources

• Career Education Center -- Simmons career counseling
• CareerLink-- Simmons online recruiting
• CA$H -- Simmons work study and on-campus jobline
• Alumnet Professional Connections
• School of Management Library -- additional career and business resources at Simmons
• Study Abroad Office

Transitions: Classroom to Career

Funded by a Centennial Grant from the Alumnae Association
of Simmons College

Health Insurance

I have just graduated and I expect that I will find a job with health insurance benefits before too long.
Am I able to continue my health insurance coverage through Simmons College for any period of time after graduation?
What if I am going right on to graduate school?
Can I arrange to continue coverage under my parent(s)' health plan for any length of time after graduation?
Are there any reduced cost insurance programs?
Besides COBRA, what are my options for obtaining temporary health insurance to cover me while I am searching for a job?
What if I am unable to afford to purchase temporary insurance like COBRA or through other channels?
If I am without health insurance for a period of time but require a regular regimen of medication, are there ways to reduce the costs of my medication?
How do I obtain discounted dental services if I am without dental insurance?
During my job search process, when interviewing with different prospective employers, what sorts of questions should I ask regarding health insurance benefits?
What sort of things should I look for in a dental plan?
How can I keep up with health insurance related news that might benefit me?
Once I have health insurance, how do I go about selecting a doctor who understands my specific health-related needs and concerns?

I have just graduated and I expect that I will find a job with health insurance benefits before too long. I'm very healthy so why should I worry if I have no insurance for the time being?

You place yourself at risk by being uninsured for even a short time. Accidents and injuries happen unexpectedly. The following article, Uninsured grads face crippling health costs, makes several very important arguments against being without insurance.
http://www.lifeinsuranceforseniors.net/node/3608

Am I able to continue my health insurance coverage through Simmons College for any period of time after graduation?

If you are currently covered by the Simmons College Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Program, see page 5 (Continuation Privilege) of the PDF document:
http://www.universityhealthplans.com/brochures_pdf/Simmons0607.pdf

What if I am going right on to graduate school?

Eligibility for graduate student health insurance varies from school to school. Some graduate programs only insure students who have received fellowships, TA positions, or various grants. Check with the graduate school you will be attending to learn whether or not you are eligible to buy coverage. If you have trouble finding such information, please stop by the Career Resource Center for assistance

Can I arrange to continue coverage under my parent(s)' health plan for any length of time after graduation?
If your parent(s) are covered by a group insurance plan, you should be able to purchase COBRA health benefits for up to 36 months. However, this option can be very expensive, since your parent(s)' employer does not make a contribution to COBRA benefits as he or she probably does for your parent(s)' health plan. To learn more about COBRA, read "Access to Health Care in Massachusetts" and see page 77.
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/r/pubs/access_catalog.pdf

Are there any reduced cost insurance programs?
Yes, Deval Patrick has initiated a new program where Young Adults aged 19-26 will be able to purchase health insurance for a cheaper amount. The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority states that a range of options will be available for the uninsured. Monthly bills could range between $109 and $175. For more details, please see the article "New Health Insurance Plan," and visit the "Commonwealth Connector" website.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=pressreleases&agId=Agov3&prModName
=gov3pressrelease&prFile =agov3_pr_070303_health_insurance.xml

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=hichomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Qhic

For students who will be residing in other states after graduation, it is worth exploring the possibility of state health insurance plans, as requirements vary widely. If you need help finding such information, stop by the Career Resource Library for assistance.

Besides COBRA, what are my options for obtaining temporary health insurance to cover me while I am searching for a job?

Options for temporary insurance will vary based on the state where you will reside after graduation. Check with the appropriate state-specific insurance commission. For Massachusetts residents, purchasing temporary insurance is addressed at medhealthinsurance for Massachusetts.
http://www.medhealthinsurance.com/massachusetts.htm

Also of value to college graduates who will continue to reside in Massachusetts after graduation is the Consumer Information Guide: Nongroup Health Insurance Plans in Massachusetts.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1
=Consumer&L2=Insurance&L3=Health+Insurance&L4=Consumer
+Guides&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=doi_Consumer_css_
health_NonGroup_2006&csid=Eoca#eligible

For a state by state breakdown of health insurance options, Access to Health Insurance/Resources for Care is a valuable resource. Originally established as a health insurance resource for people working in the arts, this website now addresses many other groups of people including young adults (with "Alumni and recent graduates" as a subgroup). By clicking on "Alumni and recent graduates," the site visitor is directed to temporary insurance options and a link to "The Basics of Short-Term Health Insurance."
http://www.ahirc.org/

What if I am unable to afford to purchase temporary insurance like COBRA or through other channels?

Within the state of Massachusetts, a number of Community Health Centers provide many medical services to individuals regardless of their ability to pay or on a sliding scale basis. Go to Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and click on "Health Centers" for a list of participating health centers. It should be noted that services vary from health center to health center depending on their individual license.
http://www.massleague.org.

Community Health Centers can be found in all U.S. states. For Simmons graduates who will be residing in other states after graduation, check for Community Health Centers listed on the web for your particular state. If you need help finding such information, please stop by the Career Resource Library for assistance.

 

If I am without health insurance for a period of time but require a regular regimen of medication, are there ways to reduce the costs of my medication?

Yes, there are options. Many Community Health Centers offer free generic drugs if they determine that you qualify for free care based on your current income level and other criteria. Read the Department of Health and Human Services website.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=
Consumer&L2=Insurance+(including+MassHealth)&sid=Eeohhs2&b=
terminalcontent&f=dhcfp_consumer_resources&csid=Eeohhs2

How do I obtain discounted dental services if I am without dental insurance?

The Discounted Dental Services includes information on dental training clinics which offer a wide variety of services at reduced prices.
http://www.dentalplans.com/statesummarymassachusetts.asp

For Simmons graduates who will be living in other states, it is advisable to contact dental schools in your area to determine reduced-fee services offered. If you need help finding such information, contact the Career Resource Library for assistance.

During my job search process, when interviewing with different prospective employers, what sorts of questions should I ask regarding health insurance benefits?

There are several different coverage options which different employers may offer. It is very important to educate yourself about what these different options entail. The article The ABC's of Health Insurance is a must-read.
http://www.myemployeeinsurance.com/resources/abcs_of_health_insurance.pdf

What sort of things should I look for in a dental plan?

Dental coverage varies. Animated-Teeth explains the different types of plans.
http://www.animated-teeth.com/dental_insurance/t1_dental_insurance.htm.

How can I keep up with health insurance related news that might benefit me?

If you are interested in the current issues and government policy-making surrounding the issue of health insurance, you will definitely find the Families USA website useful. Not only does it contain a very informative section on minority health issues (clink on “Minority Health” on the left navigational bar) but it also contains a link for “State Information” which leads to a drop-down menu on the right side of the page below a small map of the U.S.A. The drop-down menu allows you to find health insurance resources in any state where you may be residing after graduation.
http://www.familiesusa.org/

Once I have health insurance, how do I go about selecting a doctor who understands my specific health-related needs and concerns?

Selecting a doctor can be difficult task. However, choosing a high quality doctor with whom one is most comfortable is addressed in Your Kind of Doctor, a web article from the Washington Post which addresses how to find doctors of one's own race (e.g. African-American), religion, or sexual sensitivities. The article includes many links to web resources in a sidebar.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/30/AR2006013001238.html

Another valuable resource for selecting a physician is the Massachusetts Medical Society.
http://www.massmed.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=
Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=4126

 

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Page updated: January 23, 2008