Gordon College

STUDENT ACCIDENT & SICKNESS INSURANCE PROGRAM
2010-2011 Academic Year

To: All Gordon College Students and Parents
From: V.P. for Finance Office
Re: Student Health Insurance

IMPORTANT NOTE: All students must go online and either enroll in or waive the Gordon College Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan. For details, please read on . . .

Gordon College is committed to promoting good health and meeting the medical needs of its students. A health insurance plan is critical in providing peace of mind knowing that students can receive the services they need in the event of a sickness or injury.

Massachusetts State Law mandates that all students who are full-time and three- quarter time carry adequate medical insurance to help cover the extra expenses of medical treatment. The Gordon College Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan provides coverage to students for a 12-month period August 20, 2010, through August 20, 2011. The plan includes a local and national network of preferred providers and is designed to be an affordable option.

Although many families may have some form of insurance, it’s important to ensure that students are adequately covered while attending schools. All too often situations arise in which a student requires medical or mental health care beyond what is available at the Gordon College Health Center and discover that their insurance covers them only in the event of an emergency or in their home geographic region. This frequently results in students needing to take an otherwise unnecessary leave of absence from college to return home to get the treatment they need.

To assist you in making an informed decision regarding your student’s health insurance needs, here are some general questions to ask your current health plan to ensure it provides adequate coverage:

Does your current health plan ...

• ...provide coverage while in the area of the Gordon College campus? Many HMO plans provide coverage for emergency treatment only while out-of-area of the local HMO.
• ...cover your daughter/son as long as they are a registered student at Gordon College? Most employer plans drop dependents at a certain age or if a parent has a job change.
• ...cover mental health services? Many employer-sponsored plans provide very limited coverage for mental health services.
• ...provide coverage anywhere in the world, including medical evacuation and repatriation benefits while the student is away from campus for academics, research, work or vacation? Many employer- sponsored plans will only provide coverage while in the United States, and most do not include any medical evacuation or repatriation benefits.
• ...include prescription drug coverage and a nationwide network of member pharmacies? Many employer-sponsored plans do not provide prescription drug coverage, or only very limited benefits available at certain local pharmacies.

While the majority of students’ health issues can be met by Gordon’s Health Center, there are times when outside specialists or additional consultation is warranted. At such times, the Student Accident and Sickness Plan sponsored by Gordon College provides coverage worldwide and allows students to seek care from any licensed provider. The plan provides coverage for expenses relating to injury or sickness including diagnostic testing, lab and x-ray services, doctor visits and prescription drugs.

EVERY STUDENT attending Gordon College in the fall MUST record their medical insurance information by visiting www.universityhealthplans.com. You must let us know if you are enrolling in the Student Accident and Sickness Plan offered by Gordon College or if you prefer to waive this plan. ALL STUDENTS must record their choice on- line by September 6th in order to ensure your fall bill accurately reflects your choice, and those enrolling in the Gordon plan have their medical ID cards as early as possible. It is your responsibility to carefully compare your current insurance plan with that offered by Gordon College to ensure the coverage is truly comparable. If you do not have comparable health insurance or do not complete the online waiver by the deadline, you will be required to purchase the Student Accident and Sickness Plan and will be automatically enrolled; refunds will not be given.

We encourage you to read the information provided and take the time to make an informed decision regarding your health coverage. If you have questions regarding the Student Accident and Sickness Plan, please contact University Health Plans Inc. at 800-437-6448.

Sincerely,

Andrew Stuart
Assistant to the V.P. for Finance

Aimee Cole
HR/Finance Assistant