Hi,

Is it logical to keep my current individual health insurance while taking on the health insurance provided by my law school? I explain the circumstances below.

I was recently self-employed and had a health insurance policy with a high deductible, a health savings account, and excellent coverage. For insurance, it is relatively cheap, but it still adds up.

However I am about to begin law school. My mom's friend, who works in the insurance industry, recommends that even if I decide to take the insurance from the law school, I should keep my current insurance. He explained that if a horrible thing occurred, my law school insurance would cover me, but when I graduate it would become difficult to find a new insurance plan that would cover a preexisting condition. Maintaining my current individual plan guarantees me coverage for life.

However when I graduate law school I will probably go (like 95% chance) onto a clerkship. After that I will do a corporate job to pay back debt for law school. I believe this means guaranteed health insurance for at least two years after school.

Also the HSA, health savings account, of my individual plan does not work while I have the law schools insurance plan.

I'd like to take on the law schools plan bc the the individual plan has a very high deductible, and I like the convenience of getting health care on campus.

So again, does it make sense to shell out the extra money for my own individual insurance plan while taking the law schools insurance? Are other people maintaining individual coverage while their company or school provides health insurance?