Graduating from college can mean many things for young adults. For most it means getting that real-world job, moving back home and unfortunately, losing their health insurance.

Odds are most college graduates were covered by their parent’s health insurance policy while they were a full-time student. Depending on the insurance plan, once those graduates reach the ages of 22 to 25, most health insurance plans will stop covering them and those benefits could end immediately. The student might have been covered by a health plan offered through their college or university, which also ends when they graduate.

Health insurance is protection against medical costs. Once graduating from college, young adults need to decide what’s more important and which they can least afford: buying health insurance or going without it. If they don’t have a job lined up, or if their new employer doesn’t offer health benefits it is important to get covered right away in case something was to happen. It may even be wiser for young adults to buy their own health insurance since the cost of Individual Medical Insurance for young adults can be as low as $70 per month. All it takes is one bad accident, for example, a severe car crash, to stick someone with massive doctor and hospital bills that could hang around for years or even be the cause of personal bankruptcy. Young adults don’t realize that health insurance is quite affordable, and shouldn’t be tempted to go without some sort of health insurance to pay for doctor or hospital visits.

Young adults need to find the right option for them when it comes to health insurance. They need to talk to someone that can go over individual options and can put them in a plan that covers their needs. The key is to find the right plan that fits your budget, and covers you for anything that may happen.