UMASS-Dartmouth

Student Accident & Sickness Insurance Program
2010-2011 Academic Year

Dear Students:

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is pleased to present you with information about our new Student Health Insurance Plan, offered in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, for the 2010/2011 Academic Year. Returning students who want to continue with the BCBS plan must enroll again for this year through the school’s “Coin” system.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Law requires that all full-time and three- quarter time students attending an institution of higher education in this state must be enrolled in a qualifying Student Health Insurance Plan that meets established minimum benefit guidelines. All full-time and three-quarter time graduate and undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan unless proof of comparable coverage is furnished by the waiver deadline date. Students must actively attend classes for at least the first 31 days after the date for which coverage is purchased. Part-time study, independent study, internet classes and television (TV) courses may not fulfill the eligibility requirements that the covered student actively attends classes. If the eligibility requirements are not met, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s only obligation is to refund the premium.

If you have private health insurance that will cover you for the entire 2010/2011 academic year, and this coverage meets the minimum guidelines established by the state, you may waive the school sponsored health insurance plan and have the student health insurance annual charge of $1,999 removed from your tuition bill. Most students with out of state HMOs are not eligible to waive the school coverage. Please note, if you are a full-time student in Massachusetts and eligible for your school-sponsored student health insurance plan, you are not eligible to be covered by the state-subsidized Commonwealth Care Plan and may not waive participation in the UMASS-Dartmouth Student Health Insurance Plan.

Instructions on how to receive a waiver of the health insurance plan will be provided by the Bursar’s Office with your billing statement.

PLEASE NOTE THAT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CANNOT WAIVE THE SCHOOL SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN. THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN INJURY OR ILLNESS.

Your health care, while you are a student at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, is covered by two separate payment systems:

Student Health Fee: This fee entitles students to unlimited sick visits to the office for evaluation, diagnoses and treatment, without a copayment. The only time there are additional charges is for immunizations, annual GYN exams, sports physicals. The student’s private health insurance is billed for office visits, laboratory tests and other procedures that may be done in Health Services. There are no out of pocket charges for the student or family.

Student Health Insurance Fee: The student’s private health insurance OR Student Health Insurance Plan will pay for other services, including specialty care, emergency care, inpatient care, lab and x-rays or other treatment received outside of the Student Health Center. Below are the 2010-2011 health insurance premiums.

If you enroll in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Blue Care Elect Preferred (PPO) Student Health Insurance Plan, and are seen by a Preferred Provider, your annual plan deductible is waived and most services are paid in full (after per visit copays). If you seek the services of a Non-Preferred Provider, you will be responsible for meeting the annual plan deductible of $200 per member, and paying 20% coinsurance for covered services.

To find a participating provider, please visit www.bluecrossma.com for Massachusetts providers. To find participating providers out-of- state, please visit the BlueCard Provider Finder website at www.bcbs.com/healthtravel/finder.html.

If you are purchasing coverage for your Dependents under this plan, you will need to enroll them on-line by visiting www.universityhealthplans.com, and selecting the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth link. From this same link, you may also enroll in the separate voluntary Dental and Vision insurance programs (separate premium charged for voluntary programs).

If you are currently uninsured, we recommend that you carefully consider the Student Health Insurance Plan underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. If you are covered by your family’s or spouse’s insurance plan, we encourage you to compare the costs, coverage, and benefits of the Student Health Insurance Plan to those of your existing plan before making any decision about your health insurance. We believe that many students and/or parents will be pleasantly surprised to find that the cost of our plan may be considerably lower than that of other insurance options, while providing more comprehensive coverage with lower out-of-pocket expenses.

I welcome you to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and hope that you have a healthy four years with us.

If you are waiving the student health insurance plan, click here to be directed to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth website.

Sincerely,

Sheila Dorgan, MSN, FNP, Director
Student Health Services