Subsidized doesn't mean free, and the medical insurance plans vary widely from school to school. But if you combine one of these medical insurance plans with the often-free preventive care services available to students at the campus clinic, most medical occurrences can be covered. College health plans usually cover 100 percent of medical care provided through the campus clinic and around 70 percent of costs for services off-campus. Be sure to examine the insurance quotes for any restrictions on coverage of pre-existing conditions such as asthma or allergies.
If you live in a state other than Texas but your child will be attending school in Texas, it might be a good idea to buy the college's medical insurance even if your child is covered under your policy. Sometimes having this in-state coverage is beneficial for expediency of care. If they have the college policy, they won't have to call home to the family physician to get a referral to a doctor in the college town, which would also bring out-of-network charges into play.
Like any medical insurance you purchase, you need to make sure the quotes you receive for college plans have the coverage necessary. Make sure ER visits are covered without prior approval. Ask questions like if the student is covered during the periods of the year when school isn't in session, such as summer and Christmas break.
A student's first year away at college should be filled with studying, making new friends, exploring who and what they want to be when they graduate, and having fun. They - and you - don't need to be worrying about their medical insurance.