When Baton Rouge local Kim dropped her son Nick off at LSU last fall, she thought she had everything covered: fresh bedding, a brand new laptop, a bundle of dorm snacks, and even a mini smart fridge. What didn’t she think about? Insurance.
Just a couple of weeks into the semester, Nick’s laptop was stolen from his dorm room. Kim assumed her homeowners insurance would cover it, but the deductible was higher than the laptop’s value. Then, a few months later, Nick got rear-ended while driving back from a football game. That turned into a mess of coverage questions and surprise bills. By the time the second semester rolled around, Kim had connected with her agent at Henry Insurance and reviewed everything.
Save Headaches – And Money — When Your Student Leaves Home.
Sending your child off to college, especially for the first time, is a wonderful milestone to celebrate, but it’s also a major life shift that can create great anxiety. Between tuition payments, scheduling the first semester, and dorm shopping, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important aspects of this transition: making sure your insurance coverage still fits your family’s needs.
At Henry Insurance, we help Baton Rouge families prepare for life’s big changes. If your child is heading to LSU, Southeastern, or out of state, here’s a checklist of what you need to know to protect them (and yourself) as they fly the nest.
Auto Insurance: Car on Campus or Staying Home?
One of the first questions to consider: Is your student taking a car to school?
If the car stays home
You may be eligible for a student-away discount if your child is over a certain number of miles away from home and won’t be driving the vehicle regularly. This is great news and offers a way to reduce your premium without changing your overall coverage.
If the car goes with them
You likely need to update their garaging address and confirm they’re still fully covered in their new location. This is especially important for out-of-state colleges or high-traffic areas like LSU’s campus. Many parents assume that there’s no need for a coverage update if the student takes his or her own car to school with them, but without the proper updates, any claims made could be denied.
Save Money with a Good Student Discount
Some policies offer good student discounts for maintaining a certain GPA. This is one of the biggest discounts for young drivers. Typically, your new college student must achieve a 3.0 GPA or higher. You’ll also need to provide a copy of your report cards or transcripts to your agent to verify this discount.
Personal Property: Are Their Belongings Covered?
Laptops. Headphones. Gaming consoles. Textbooks. Dorm life is full of high-ticket items that could be lost, damaged, or stolen. Make sure you know what’s covered before your young student is in a tight situation.
Living in a dorm?
Your homeowner’s policy might extend a small portion of its personal property coverage to items in a dorm. But coverage limits and conditions vary. Check in with your agent to see what applies.
Off-campus housing?
If your student is moving into an apartment or rental home with multiple roommates, your homeowner’s policy may not apply. In this case, you may want to consider a renter’s insurance policy for protection. It’s a smart move and typically more affordable coverage that can cover:
- Personal belongings (electronics, clothing, furniture)
- Liability (if someone is injured at their place)
- Additional living expenses (if the unit becomes uninhabitable)
Why not use your homeowners policy?
Filing a claim on your homeowners policy over a dorm theft could drive up your premium. It’s often better to keep those claims separate. In the event of a claim, you’ll most likely spend less money in the long run.
Health Insurance: In-Network and In-State
If your child is covered under your health plan, make sure it still works for where they’re going to college. They may be pros at MyChart, or they may not remember their doctor’s name offhand. In the event of an emergency, they need to know what to do and where to go. Health insurance can be confusing at times, especially if your student hasn’t used their plan on their own before. Talk about which type of coverage your student has and go over common health insurance terms with them, such as copayment, deductible, and coinsurance, so they know what to expect (even though they’ll probably still call you with a question).
Staying In-State in Louisiana?
Your student may be in the clear, but check if your policy has in-network providers near the school. If you’re not a Baton Rouge native, you need to make sure your student knows the healthcare providers available to them at LSU or at nearby facilities.
Heading Out of State?
Emergency care is often covered, but routine or follow-up visits may not be. Some plans don’t cross state lines easily. It’s vital to review your network limitations and talk to your agent. A simple, proactive conversation can mean the difference between paying off student loans or paying off medical bills.
Should I Buy the School’s Health Plan?
LSU and other colleges offer student health plans that may provide more accessible care for out-of-state students or students who need affordable, individual coverage. These plans can be a smart secondary option (or perhaps even a better fit altogether).
Where To Go?
Does your student know where to go in the event of an emergency away from home? What about when they have a terrible cold? Knowing what’s covered and how much it costs depends on the plan and network type, and it makes a big difference between your student knowing the smart place to go versus creating an unnecessarily expensive medical bill. If the school has a campus health center, check to see if your plan is accepted. You can also search for local urgent care and emergency room locations online or with the mobile app and discuss what warrants a visit to these facilities. Remind your students to always request a copy of their medical treatment when they receive care.
Liability and Umbrella Policies: Are You Protected?
Things go wrong in college. And, we’ve seen it all – students losing laptops, roommate conflicts, or even the occasional dorm fire caused by contraband candles. Accidents happen. Alcohol happens. The best thing you can do as a parent is make sure your insurance doesn’t let you down when something invariably goes sideways.
Whatever their maturity level, college students are legally adults, which means their actions could have legal and financial consequences for your family.
If your child damages property or someone gets hurt in their apartment, they could be sued, and you’re on the hook. Some homeowners policies extend liability coverage, but only under specific conditions, and only if your student qualifies as an “insured” under the policy.
Consider an umbrella policy if:
- Your homeowner’s coverage is limited.
- Your student is accident-prone or in a higher-risk living environment.
- You want extra peace of mind beyond standard limits.
When in Doubt, Talk to Your Agent
Insurance can feel complicated, especially when you’re mixing dorms, state lines, and shifting responsibilities. Let us help you sort it out.
Call us at (225) 927-0451 to review your current coverage and talk through options for your college student.
Whether it’s LSU or a school out of state, we’re here to help Louisiana families send their kids off with confidence and coverage that works. Because it’s our job to help you protect what matters most.
