Columbia University Student Services December Mailing

Enroll/Waive Insurance

Enroll/Waive Insurance

Overview

As an early arrival student, you are eligible for early arrival health care coverage, which includes health insurance through the Columbia Student Medical Plan and enrollment in the Health Services Program.

This program provides coverage from June 1 to August 31, 2009. Please note: Full-time students must also confirm their insurance selection again each September by actively enrolling in the Basic or Comprehensive Level of the Plan or by requesting a waiver.

University policy requires all registered full-time students to have acceptable health insurance coverage. The Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan offers both basic and comprehensive levels of coverage. Both levels of the plan are summarized below. For more information, please visit the Health Services website.

Full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Basic level of the plan but may upgrade their coverage to the Comprehensive level or request a waiver of automatic enrollment by documenting enrollment in another plan meeting specific coverage criteria.

NOTE: a charge for the summer term of the Basic level of the insurance plan will appear on your first Student Account Statement. If you request a waiver from automatic enrollment in the Columbia plan by the deadline and have comparable insurance coverage, that charge will be removed on a subsequent statement.

What the Plan Offers

Go to http://www.health.columbia.edu/ for a complete list of benefits. The Plan provides coverage for:
  • Physician office visits, including allergy care
  • X-rays and outpatient laboratory services
  • Inpatient hospitalizations
  • Dependent coverage enrollment options
  • Pre-natal and maternity care**
  • Dental care options
  • Discounted vision care**
  • Emergency travel assistance services*
  • Emergency care**
  • Prescription plan benefits, including contraceptive medications and devices
  • Mental health coverage
  • Surgical services

** For these benefits, a referral does not need to be obtained in advance.
* For these benefits, services must be arranged by On Call International.

To Top

How the Plan Works with the Program

The Plan works with the Health Service Program to provide consistent, efficient care that complements the programs offered on campus:
  • Primary Care Medical Services (PCMS) is the primary care provider for students enrolled in the Plan.
  • PCMS and Counseling and Psychological Services arrange access to off-campus care and services after students are seen and evaluated on campus.
To Top

Coverage for Specific Off-Campus Services

Limited coverage for certain off-campus services is provided through the Health Service Program. This coverage is separate from the Plan. It is available to all students enrolled in the Health Service Program regardless of the type of health insurance plan a student carries. There are limits and restrictions on this special coverage. Coverage is provided for:
  • off-campus mental health services*
  • outpatient treatment for chemical abuse*
  • treatment of accidental injury or medical emergencies, including emergency room care, emergency inpatient hospital care, physician services related to the treatment of accidental injury or medical emergencies
*Coverage is available only after a referral has been provided by a Counseling and Psychological Services clinician.
To Top

Basic Level

The Basic Level of the Plan is designed to provide a level of coverage that is adequate for many people attending college or graduate programs. The total maximum aggregate lifetime benefit available in the Basic Level of the Plan is $300,000 per condition. It is appropriate for students who:
  • Do not have a chronic health condition
  • Do not expect to need health care services frequently
  • Are looking for essential coverage at a reasonable cost
  • Are interested in utilizing a “pay-as-you-go” strategy: participants pay a lower insurance premium at the outset but a higher proportion of the cost of any services that may be utilized
To Top

Comprehensive Level

The Comprehensive Level of the Plan includes all of the benefits provided by the Basic Level of the Plan as well as more extensive benefits in certain areas:
  • Enhanced benefits for prescription drugs, physical therapy and other services
For students who have chronic health conditions, take prescription drugs regularly or anticipate utilizing mental health services in an ongoing way, the Comprehensive Level of the Plan may be appropriate. Students will:
  • Pay a higher insurance premium up front
  • Pay less in out-of-pocket expenses as services are utilized
  • Have a total maximum aggregate lifetime benefit of $1,000,000 per condition available through the Comprehensive Level of the Plan
To Top

Fees & Premiums


Health Service Program
Fall Spring Annual
Health Service Fee $387 $387 $774
Insurance Premiums for the Columbia Plan
Fall Spring Annual
Basic Level $646 $992 $1638
Comprehensive Level $922 $1422 $2344

Summer period of coverage is from June 1 to August 31, 2009. All insurance enrollment and immunization compliance deadlines are June 14, 2009.

To Top

Enrollment

Full-time Students
All registered full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Basic Level if no valid waiver request is submitted and approved. Full-time students must also confirm their insurance selection each September by actively enrolling in the Basic or Comprehensive Level of the Plan or by requesting a waiver. Enrollment in the Plan, either by automatic enrollment or online selection, is effective only after you register for classes.

Part-time Students
Part-time students are encouraged to enroll in the Plan. Enrolling in the Plan will automatically initiate participation in the Health Service Program (the Health Service Fee is required and will be charged on the Student Account Statement). Part-time students who have been insured under the Plan in previous years and wish to enroll again must re-enroll by Sept. 30 of each year to avoid a break in coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Funded Graduate Students
Contact your departmental administrator, Financial Aid Office or Fellowship Office for information about whether your school provides funding to cover any portion of the Plan premium for you and your dependents.

Plan ID Cards
Prior to receiving an insurance ID card, some services are available to students enrolled in the Columbia Plan. Your provider may require that you pay for the services and then seek reimbursement from Aetna Student Health (medical claims) or Aetna Pharmacy Management (pharmacy claims). You can expedite receipt of your ID card by actively confirming your automatic enrollment in the Basic Level or by upgrading your coverage to the Comprehensive Level prior to the specified deadline.
To Top

Waiver of Automatic Enrollment

If you have alternate coverage under a comparable insurance plan, you may submit a waiver request from automatic enrollment in the Basic Level by June 14, 2009 for summer coverage (June 1, 2009 - Aug. 31, 2009). Alternate coverage must meet at least six criteria, all of which are described online. All requests are considered but approval is not guaranteed.

Because students’ alternate insurance coverage may change, students wishing to request a waiver of automatic enrollment in the Plan must submit a new waiver request by Sept. 30 of each year the student is registered. Late requests for enrollment will be reviewed upon receipt of documentation of such a change.

To Top