Preparing for school

Before your child leaves for college, add a few health-related items to your to-do list:

• Immunizations - Most colleges require proof of immunizations. In addition to the basics like measles shots, students who live in a dorm may need a meningitis vaccine, too. Read more about vaccines for teens.
  
  
  
• Health history - The college will need it, so take the easy route: use MyHealth Record in MyHumana — each Humana member's password-protected, personal home page on www.humana.com. You and your child can update and print the record from any computer with Internet access.
  
  
  
• Insurance card - Make sure your child has a card and knows to keep it handy at all times. Point out important information like copayment amounts, so your child knows what to expect at the doctor's office or pharmacy.
  
  
  
• In-network providers - Pick an in-network doctor, urgent care center, and pharmacy in your child's new town. You'll have one less thing to worry about in case something happens — and you'll save money, too.
  
  
  
• Release forms - Prepare several copies of a signed form or letter giving you access to your child's health information. It's your child's choice whether to grant permission on a case-by-case basis. But without it, the doctor, hospital, or campus clinic can't release health information to you for a dependent over age 18.
  
  
  

Adjusting to a new environment

Moving can cause health changes — and moving from a parent's house to a dorm is no exception. Some things to think about:

• Maintenance medications - Help your child develop a new routine that fits his or her class schedule. Also talk about how and when to order refills.
  
  
  
• Allergy and asthma triggers - If your child is sensitive to mold, pollen, and other allergens, it's important to watch for symptoms after moving to a new environment. If food allergens are a problem, contact the school food-service department for help and advice.
  
  
  
• Diet and activity changes - To help your child avoid the "Freshman 15" — the 15 pounds many new college students gain — talk about making healthy choices in the cafeteria and encourage your child to participate in sports, which is a great way to stay in shape and meet new people.
  
  
  
• Stress and time management - In a 2005 survey, nearly a third of college students said stress caused them to perform poorly in school.* Common stressors include time management problems, relationship troubles, and credit card debt. If your child is having problems, the school may offer free help, such as counseling services.
  
  
  

Bottom line:

Set your college-bound kid up for a good experience in the new environment. Have a heart-to-heart about making healthy choices away from home.

Additional resources:

American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: Asthma and the College Student

Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Meningococcal Disease and Meningococcal Vaccines Fact Sheet and Vaccines for Teens

www.4collegewomen.org: Young women's health and safety issues