Back to School: Is Your Child Really Ready for College?

By Layforn Profice, Jr.

Across America, parents are loading up cars, buying dorm room essentials, stocking fridges, and checking off back-to-school lists as their kids head off to college. You’ve thought about the backpacks, laptops, snacks, bedding, and maybe even a reliable car. But here’s a question you may not have considered:

Is your child truly prepared when it comes to their health insurance?

I’m not talking about buying them new coverage. Most college students remain on their parents’ health insurance plan until they age off. What I’m asking is this: Do they know how to use it?

The Freshman Fog

When I was a freshman at Mississippi State, health insurance wasn’t even on my radar. Honestly, I couldn’t have told you whether I was on my parents’ plan or not. One day I had an issue with my foot and called home. My parents asked, “Doesn’t your campus have a nurse’s office?”

Turns out, MSU had a health facility that felt like a hospital to me. But I couldn’t tell you who paid the bill or how it was processed. I was completely unprepared.

Your child might be in the same boat. And if they had an emergency when you weren’t available—would they know what to do?

Knowing Where to Go

Every college town is different. Some schools have campus clinics or student health centers, but those are usually limited in services. Without guidance, your student might run to the emergency room for every sinus infection—when urgent care could have been quicker, easier, and far less expensive.

If your child has a chronic condition—like asthma, diabetes, or severe allergies—it may even be worth asking your home doctor for a recommendation in their college town. Having a local physician lined up can save headaches later.

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

College kids are spreading their wings, but safety should still be part of the conversation:

• Emergency contacts – Be sure their medical info is stored in their phone in a way first responders can access without a password.

• Medical ID bracelets – If they have a serious condition, this small step can be lifesaving.

• Sharing information – A trusted roommate should at least know how to reach you in an emergency.

• Location apps – Some families use apps like Life360. My own daughters (who are grown-ish now) use it more to keep up with me than I do with them! It gives peace of mind if something unexpected happens.

Preventive Care Matters Too

Independence often means kids only go to the doctor when they’re sick. But preventive care is just as important in college as it was at home. Encourage them to keep up with:

• Yearly checkups

• Dental visits

• Eye exams

Sometimes a simple preventive appointment can catch a problem before it interrupts their semester.

Looking Ahead

For parents with students considering graduate school, keep in mind that your child may age off your insurance before their studies are over. Preparing them now to understand how coverage works—and how to shop for it later—will make that transition much smoother.

Final Thought

You’ve thought of the laptops, the bedding, the meal plan, and even the emergency credit card. But don’t forget to prepare your child for one of the most important parts of independence—their health and how to take care of it.

Because being ready for college isn’t just about the books and the backpack. It’s about knowing where to turn when life happens.