Ithaca College
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

Annual Term 2018 - 2019

This form is for all new incoming students and returning students for the Fall 2018 Term.

Dear Students and Parents:

Ithaca College requires all matriculated undergraduate and graduate students to have health insurance. In an effort to increase access to health care, Ithaca College has partnered with Atlanta International Insurance Company (AIIC) to provide a plan with comprehensive coverage for Ithaca College students. This plan is serviced by University Health Plans. The charge to obtain coverage for the Annual Term (August 10, 2018 - August 9, 2019) is $1,795.

In order to ensure that all students have health insurance coverage, all student accounts will initially be charged for the plan. If you are a domestic student and wish to opt out of this plan and have the insurance charge removed from your account, you must submit an online waiver form and provide proof of current health insurance coverage prior to the waiver deadline.

All International students and other non-U.S. residents at Ithaca College will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan, but not until the waiver period closes. Therefore, in order to avoid any delay in establishing benefits or gaps in coverage, we strongly recommend that you complete and submit the enrollment form for international students accessible via the left navigation window before August 10, 2018. If you are covered by an Embassy Sponsored Program, or a U.S. based health insurance plan with equal or better coverage, you may complete and submit the paper waiver form for international students accessible via the left navigation window before August 10, 2018. If a student is NOT covered by an Embassy Sponsored Program or comparable U.S. based health insurance plan, they are NOT allowed to waive the health insurance. The Ithaca College Student Health Insurance Plan meets the J1/J2 visa requirements.

Please visit www.universityhealthplans.com to enroll in or waive out of the plan by August 10, 2018. Instructions can be found on line.

Important Changes to the 2018/19 Student Health Insurance Plan:

• Effective 08/10/18, the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) will change to Cigna.  The PPO member search link is provided to the left hand side of this page.

To expedite enrollment in the plan, students must submit the online enrollment form.

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.

Consider the following in making your decision:

• Students with out of state HMO/PPO or Medicaid plans often incur higher charges when obtaining care out of the network and access to local services in Ithaca may be limited or denied.
• Some insurance plans, including out-of-state Medicaid Plans, only cover urgent or emergent care when care is obtained outside of the plan’s service area.
• Some plans do not cover outpatient referrals, or may only cover them after a high deductible or co-payment; this plan can help cover those expenses.

If you do elect to waive coverage, we recommend that you provide Ithaca College Student Health Services with a copy of your medical and prescription cards. While this is not required, it will enable Health Center staff to better assist you with your health needs. Please fax a copy of both the front and back of your cards to 607-274-1844, or email a picture to healthcenter@ithaca.edu. This is not in place of the above mentioned waiver.

You should also be aware that all enrolled and matriculated Ithaca College students are able to access care at the Hammond Health Center regardless of your decision to keep or to waive the student health insurance plan. There are no charges for most of the services provided at the health center.

Please call University Health Plans at 1-800-437-6448 if you have questions regarding the student health insurance plan.