With 12+ years of school behind them and summer ahead of them, we’re willing to bet your teen is more concerned with a healthy tan than health insurance. That’s where you come in.

Even into adulthood, your kids are still your babies. And don’t you want your baby birds to be covered when they leave the nest? College students are required to have some form of health insurance. Plus, those who have health and dental coverage are more likely to get regular checkups. They’re also more likely to choose fruits and veggies over ramen and pizza (ok, we made the last one up).

Here are options to pitch to your pre-college kids:

1. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), kids are able to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26.

• An adult can remain as a dependent on their parent’s company plan until age 26, even if they are married. 

2. Familiarize yourself with university insurance plans and/or health resources.

• If students are required to have health insurance, but their school doesn’t offer a student health plan, coverage can be obtained year-round via org

3. Consider a catastrophic health plan.

• These plans protect your kids from worst-case scenarios.

• They provide less coverage overall than typical plans, but cost less on a month-to-month basis.

No matter which insurance route you steer your spawn towards, explore all their options to help them make the smartest decision.