Mandatory Health Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions About Mandatory Health Insurance
Why is the University of Maryland requiring health insurance?
Unexpected health care expenses such as
those associated with unexpected illness, accidents, or mental health care can
destabilize a student’s financial situation and derail his/her progress toward a
degree. These potential barriers to attendance and degree completion are reduced
when students have health insurance. Conversely, students without health insurance
who do not have access to needed specialty care or hospitalization may attempt to
continue their academic pursuits but fail to reach their full potential due to their
untreated illness.
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Do I have to enroll in the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) in order
to use the University Health Center? No, all registered UM students can be seen at the
University Health Center, regardless of the type of insurance they have.
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What will happen if I do not complete a waiver or purchase the Student Health Insurance
Plan? If a student has not waived out of the University Student Health Insurance Plan
(SHIP)by July 31, 2009, he/she will automatically be enrolled in SHIP for 2009-10 and the costs
will be billed to his/her student bursar account.
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How do I determine if my health plan is adequate?
A. Families are responsible for determining if the student has adequate
health insurance using the following guidelines:
1. Student has coverage for physician and hospital care in this geographic area
2. Student has mental health coverage
3. Student has prescription coverage
4. Plan covers care 365 days per year
5. Plan has a benefit of at least $100,000 annual coverage per accident or
illness per year
6. A female student has pregnancy coverage
7. Plan covers mandatory requirements of J-1Visa holders
8. Policy provisions are available in English or be from a US owned company
that is headquartered and operating in the US
9. Policy does not unreasonably exclude perils inherent to the student’s
program of study
10. Annual deductible should not exceed $500
11. Policy covers minimum 80% coverage of professional and hospitalization
fees
12. Plan will continue coverage if student is enrolled less than full-time
13. Coverage must be in effect prior to the first day of coverage of the SHIP
I am already covered by health insurance. What do I need to do to avoid being billed for Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?
B. Students who are covered by health insurance (i.e. through parent plans, family
plans, or employer-sponsored plans) may apply for a waiver of the requirement to
enroll in SHIP by submitting the name of their insurance company and insurance
policy number for verification through a secure website: http://www.firststudent.com/
Students who complete the waiver by the deadline (July 31, 2009) will not be
charged the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan fee.
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What if I miss the waiver deadline? Please contact the University Health Center
Insurance Office at 301-314-8165 to discuss the appeal process.
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If I waived off the insurance plan for 2009-10, then I am good for the next four years at UM, right?
No! Every UM degree-seeking and international student must complete the enrollment/waiver process once a year (each fall semester) every year.
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Will my current insurance cover costs at the University Health Center?
No. The University Health Center is not a participating provider with other insurance
companies except the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan. Students can
receive a statement that can be used to seek reimbursement from their insurance
company. Students are charged a fee to see a provider plus additional fees for
laboratory tests, x-rays, etc. The fees will be charged to their student account.
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Can I use my prescription card at the University Health Center?
Yes. The pharmacy accepts over 100 prescription insurance plans, including BC/BS,
NPA, PAID, and PCS. Methods of payment accepted include cash, check, Terrapin
Express, student account, Visa, Discover, and Mastercard.
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What is covered by the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan?
The policy provides benefits for the “Usual and Customary Charges” for loss due to
a covered injury or sickness up to the maximum benefit of $150,000 for each injury
or sickness. The Preferred Provider out-of-pocket maximum per policy year
(including deductible) is $2,000 per individual, $3,000 per family. The out-of-net
work, out-of-pocket maximum is $4,000 per individual and $5,000 per family.
All services at the University Health Center are covered by SHIP except the 3rd and
subsequent sessions of massage therapy and some uncommon laboratory tests.
Examples of Health Center services which are covered include: acupuncture, flu
shots, chickenpox immunization, meningitis immunization, hepatitis A and B
immunization, and coverage for one pair of orthotics per member per two contract
years. Pharmacy benefits at the UHC are defined by the policy. Prescriptions are
subject to co-pays at the UHC. Any services billed by the UHC are not subject to
the policy deductible.
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Is there a vision or dental plan?
All SHIP insured students have access to a discount dental and vision plan. There is
an on-line procedure to access the discount dental and vision plans as well as many
other discount programs at http://www.firststudent.com/. The link also includes a
brochure that can be downloaded and printed.
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Does the Student Health Insurance Plan provide coverage if I travel abroad?
SHIP has Emergency Global Travel Assistance meaning that each insured person
has access to emergency medical assistance services when traveling 100 miles or
more from campus, his/her permanent home or around the world. Services are
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and meet or exceed the United States J-1
visa requirements for international students. For more information on the Global
Travel program, please see http://www.assistamerica.com/.
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What happens to my coverage if I withdraw from classes?
If a student withdraws from school during the fall semester, coverage will remain in
effect until the end of the fall period (~February 15th). If the student withdraws
during the spring semester, coverage will remain in effect until the end of the policy
period (~August 15th). A student who withdraws in the fall will not be charged for
the spring/summer policy period. If a student withdraws and wishes a refund, the
student must make the request directly to SHIP. A refund will be given if the student
has not incurred any claims. (Once the student has started using the health
insurance no refund will be made.)
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