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Health Insurance Options for Full-Time Students
The student benefits cover basic health insurance for all students enrolled in 11.5 credit hours per semester automatically. If you have less than 11.5, you will have to purchase the plan for a small fee. Graduate students and teaching assistants get a different type or health insurance package from the school. They have the option of having their health care benefits through an HMO or through a comprehensive type group such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield. With the HMO plan you will pay a monthly fee from your paycheck or a yearly cost that will part of your tuition. That will allow you to receive care at a low fee co-pay option. It also gives you the ability to have extra coverage in case of emergencies or referral to specialists. With the comprehensive plan, you will go to a pre-approved doctor, pay him or her, and then submit your bill or receipt of payment to the insurance company for reimbursement. You will need to take to your particular school to see what benefits are available, who is eligible, and at what cost. All eligible students are covered by the basic student plan, but many are still either on their parent’s policy, have work related insurance, or are on a spouses plan. The basic plan is additional coverage beyond any other insurance you have. This means that if you have other health insurance coverage you submit medical bills to those companies first for payment. The Student Health Service strongly recommends having additional insurance in the event of a major illness or injury. The basic coverage doesn’t cover emergency or hospital treatments, nor does it allow you to see any doctor off campus in most cases. Students having basic insurance are entitled to receive their health care at the student health centers on campus only. So any other medical need will come out of the students pocket. The coverage of a student health plan begins on the first day of the semester you are enrolled and ends the day the semester closes. During school and semester breaks, with the exception of scheduled school vacations, you will not be covered until the next semester begins. Depending on your individual school, the dates can vary. The maximum benefit coverage for the basic student health plan is for expenses incurred due to injury as long as treatment was received with in 90 days up to $5000 per injury. The maximum benefit coverage for sickness is $5,000, provided that treatment is received within 12 months from the date of the first treatment for the sickness. If you need to go to the hospital most basic plans will cover up to $5000 for your treatment and stay. Anything accrued above and beyond, including out patient treatments after discharge will be your sole responsibility. The maximum per illness or injury is $5000 no matter what type of treatment and how long you need it for. This is why it is very much recommended to have some alternative form of insurance such as short-term if a regular policy is too expensive. Most universities also offer two major medical plans for student who would like more coverage than the basic plan in case of serious illness or injury that exceeds the $5000 cap. You can choose between a $50,000 or $100,000 maximum benefit for a cost that will be included in your tuition each year. Once you have exceeded the $5000 cap you will be responsible for a deductible of some kind, usually $250-$500. After that the major health plan will pick up 80% of the medical bills till the cap is met or you are done treatment, which ever happens first. DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed Insurance Agent or Broker with any questions you may have regarding any Insurance Matter. About the author of: Health Insurance Options for Full-Time Students Thomas Hunter is an Internet marketer, author and publisher and has helped hundreds of people save money on their health insurance. Visit us at http://DiscountOnlineQuotes.com spend 5 minutes and get your no obligation Health Insurance Quote. Article Source: http://netsalesinc.com If you have a website or ezine you may freely post this article on your site as long as you include the full resource box above. All links must be active / clickable with no syntax changes.
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