Buy Your Own Insurance
If your school does not offer a low-cost health plan, you may want to consider buying an individual health insurance policy through an insurance broker or agent.

Individual policies can be expensive, and the health plan will evaluate your health before making a decision to provide you with coverage. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, a health plan may either refuse to cover you or impose a pre-existing condition exclusion period.

However, effective January 1, 2014, health plans will no longer be allowed to impose a pre-existing condition waiting period or refuse insurance to anyone with such a condition. Also, starting in 2014, you will be able to purchase health coverage in a health insurance exchange in your state or region.

Health Insurance through Medicaid
If your family’s income is low, your family is beset by high medical bills, or you have a disability, you may qualify for Medicaid. To find out if you are eligible, check with your state’s insurance department.
The health reform law will also expand Medicaid eligibility to include all Americans under age 65 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level, including adults without dependent children.