College Students Pay Twice for Health Insurance

Many parents of college students across America are paying double for their children's health insurance, an NPR investigation finds. Students are usually required to show proof of health insurance for admission, but then often find they can't use that insurance at college clinics. Parents complain that colleges automatically charge for health insurance and bury the charges in tuition bills.

Students covered by their parents' plans who opt out of college-provided insurance have to pay up front and then often struggle to be reimbursed. Legislators are starting to pay more attention to how colleges provide health insurance. Experts say the days college could charge a health fee and parents paid it without question are coming to an end. "You have to change with the times," said one. (More health insurance stories.)