With the average cost of a four-year college education in Pennsylvania
approaching
$28,000, saving for your child’s future is no simple task. By the time my two
young sons go to college, it will cost even more.
That’s where The College Tuition Benefit comes in for members of an
Independence Blue Cross (Independence) health plan. It’s a value-added
service that helps ease some of the stress associated with paying for
college.
The benefit works much like a scholarship program; you earn SAGE
Scholars Tuition Rewards Points to help offset the cost of a four-year
education. One Tuition Rewards Point is equal to a $1 guaranteed
minimum discount off full tuition to
colleges and universities all over the U.S.
The best part is, you can sponsor not only your own children, but also
your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, stepchildren, and godchildren.*
How to start earning
If you’re an Independence member, you can begin earning Tuition Rewards
as soon as you sign up. Simply log in to ibx.com, click
on Health & Well-being, and then on Value-Added Services. Right away, you will earn 2,000 points
when you sign up. Then, each student you register will receive 500
points.
Each year you remain an Independence subscriber, you will earn 2,000
points. And during your fourth year, you will earn an additional 2,500
points. That’s 4,500 points in year four. You may also be able to
receive retroactive Tuition Rewards Points back to the date you
initially became an Independence subscriber.** So, the
sooner you sign up and enroll the special kids in your life, the more
points you’ll accrue to use for their college tuition!
Ready Set College
My kids are still young, but eventually, they might need some guidance
in choosing the right colleges and majors. Today, an estimated
20 to 50 percent of students
are entering college as undecided. And an estimated 75 percent change
their majors at some point before graduation.
Ready Set College
provides students on the brink of high school graduation and their
parents with proven strategies to achieve successful college outcomes.
This website has the tools and resources students need to prepare for
college:
• Complete interest surveys and explore career options
• Use custom calculators to plan how to pay for college
• Access resources for college preparation, admission, and funding
• Create a student profile for your child so that colleges and
universities can get to know your child better
• Explore the over 400 nationally-ranked colleges and universities
eligible for The College Tuition Benefit Tuition Rewards
• Match majors with career paths and colleges
• Plan campus visits to colleges that interest your child
If your child is already thinking about life after high school, Ready
Set College is the perfect place to get started. Visit
readysetcollege.org
to learn more.
This content was originally published on
IBX Insights.
About Erin Thurston
As director of member marketing at Independence Blue Cross, Erin
Thurston is accountable for the member outreach strategy and
multi-channel execution of communications for the Commercial segment.
Additionally, her team manages the acquisition marketing and retention
efforts for the under-65 individual and family health plans. Outside of
IBX, Erin is a wife and a mom of two young boys. As a former collegiate
athlete, she enjoys attending her boys’ sporting events and all things
fitness.
*
Subject to certain restrictions. The Tuition Rewards program is
provided by The College Tuition Benefit, an independent company.
Neither The College Tuition Benefit nor SAGE Scholars, Inc. provide
Blue Cross products or services.
**
Exclusions apply; this is not a feature available to Independence
FOC employees.