Columbia University Student Services June Mailing

What the Plan Offers

The Columbia Plan provides coverage for the following types of care. Go to the Columbia Health website for a complete list of benefits.

• 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 is needed in advance.
* For these benefits, services must be arranged by On Call International.

How the Plan Works with the Columbia Health Program

The Columbia Plan works with the Columbia Health Program to provide care that complements the programs offered on campus:

• Medical Services clinicians are the primary care providers for students enrolled in the Columbia Plan
• Clinicians in Counseling and Psychological Services arrange access to off-campus care and services after students are seen and evaluated on campus
• A referral by Medical Services or Counseling and Psychological Services is mandatory when seeking off-campus services to utilize benefits under the Columbia Plan

Coverage for Specific Off-Campus Services

Limited coverage for certain off-campus services is provided through the Columbia Health Program. This coverage is separate from the Columbia Plan. It is available to all students enrolled in the Columbia Health Program regardless of the type of health insurance plan a student carries. There are limits and restrictions on this off-campus 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.

Basic Level

The Basic level of the Columbia Plan is designed to provide a level of coverage that is adequate for many people attending college or graduate programs. 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
• The total maximum aggregate lifetime benefit available is $300,000 per condition

Comprehensive Level

The Comprehensive level of the Columbia Plan includes all of the benefits provided by the Basic level as well as 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, this level of the Columbia Plan may be appropriate. Students will:

• Pay a higher insurance premium up front
• Pay less in out-of-pocket expenses as services are utilized
• The total maximum aggregate lifetime benefit available is $1,000,000 per condition

Fees & Premiums

Columbia Health Program

	Fall	Spring	Annual
Health Service Fee	$450	$450	$900

Insurance Premiums for the Columbia Plan

	Fall	Spring	Annual
Basic Level	$763	$1,172	$1,935
Comprehensive Level	$1,108	$1,708	$2,816

Early Arrival Insurance Plan (Summer/Fall)

2 Months	July 1 - August 31	$488
1 Month	August 1 - August 31	$244

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 confirm their insurance selection each September by actively enrolling in the Basic or Comprehensive level or by requesting a waiver. Enrollment in the Columbia 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 Columbia Plan. Enrolling will automatically initiate participation in the Columbia Health Program (the Columbia Health Fee is required and will be charged on the Student Account Statement). Part-time students who have been insured under the Columbia Plan in previous years and wish to enroll again must re-enroll by September 30 of each year to avoid a break in coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Study-Abroad Students
Students expecting to participate in undergraduate Study Abroad programs should consult with an Insurance Specialist at Columbia Health about the type of insurance coverage they will rely on while traveling.

Plan ID Cards
You can expedite receipt of your plan ID card by actively confirming your decision prior to the deadline. After your online selection has been entered, a card is normally issued within 14 days. ID cards are not mailed to addresses outside the United States. To ensure that your ID card will be issued in a timely manner, go to SSOL to enter your local address.

Waiver of Automatic Enrollment

To request a waiver of automatic enrollment in the Basic level of the Columbia Plan by providing documentation of alternate coverage under a comparable insurance plan, go to SSOL before September 30, 2011. All requests are considered but approval is not guaranteed.

If enrollment in the Columbia Plan has been waived for the Fall term the waiver will automatically be extended to the Spring term unless a significant life change occurs that warrants enrollment. Some examples of significant life changes are termination of insurance coverage under a partner’s or employer’s benefit plan, or surpassing the maximum age for coverage as a dependent under a parent’s plan. Late requests for enrollment will be reviewed upon receipt of documentation of such a change.

Because students’ alternate insurance coverage may change, students wishing to request a waiver of automatic enrollment in the Columbia Plan must submit a new waiver request by September 30 of each year the student is registered.

Criteria for Comparable Alternate Medical Insurance Coverage

The University verifies the information you provide. If you have not provided sufficient information or if your plan does not meet all of the requirements of the criteria, you will be contacted by the Columbia Health Insurance Office and enrolled in the Basic level of the Columbia Plan and charged for the premium. Also inquire if you will “age-out” of your current insurance plan carried by parents or legal guardians at any time from September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012. All online requests are considered but approval is not guaranteed.

Insurance plans offered by carriers not licensed in the U.S. DO NOT meet the University's waiver criteria #6 (below). If you feel your non-U.S. plan does satisfy all the requirements (including #6) you should be prepared to provide plan documents translated into English with currency amounts converted into U.S. dollars. 

Please review your alternate coverage to determine if it meets all of the following criteria:  

1/ My plan provides coverage for all medically necessary* care while I am in New York City or traveling in the United States or abroad. Alternate plans must provide routine and urgent care for both inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health services. A policy that provides only emergency or urgent care does not meet this requirement.

* Please refer to the detailed Health Insurance Plan Brochure for a definition of medically necessary.

2/ The lifetime maximum benefit for my coverage is at least $300,000 per condition with no per incident maximums.

3/ My coverage will remain in force as long as I am a registered student including approved leave of absence for medical reasons and non-degree status at Columbia University.

4/ My coverage is effective on September 1, 2011 (January 17, 2012 for new spring enrollees and June 1, 2012 for new summer enrollees) through August 31, 2012 and will cover me for any pre-existing conditions.

5/ My plan covers all of the following types of care: treatment for injuries resulting from the practice or play of athletics, inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care and treatment for chemical dependency.

6/ My plan is licensed to do business in the United States and has a U.S. based claims office and a U.S. telephone number so local hospitals and providers can contact your carrier to discuss your care and bill directly. Foreign state government plans do NOT meet this requirement.

Any student with active Medicaid coverage may request a waiver of the University's insurance requirement. Waiver requests from students with New York State Medicaid generally will be approved. Students with Medicaid coverage from outside New York State may also request a waiver. All waiver requests are submitted online and are evaluated on an individual basis.

For details about the waiver criteria and the waiver process, see http://www.health.columbia.edu/.

Insurance Charges on your Student Account Statement

• If you submit a valid waiver request by July 27, no insurance charge will appear on your first Fall Student Account Statement.
• Waiver requests submitted after July 27 but before the September 30 deadline will generate a reversal of the insurance charge that appeared on your first Fall Student Account Statement. This adjustment will be reflected on your Student Account Statement by October.
• If no waiver request is recorded by September 30, the insurance charge will remain on your account and coverage under the Columbia Plan will be in effect.