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SHIP pharmaceutical coverage designed specifically for birth control
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Beginning fall 2003, the new Boise State Student Health
Insurance Plan will cap in-house prescription coverage at $200 per
school year. An additional $200 is covered when the insured
purchases a prescription outside the Health Wellness Center. BSU
Student Health Insurance Representative Pat Branson said SHIP
pharmaceutical coverage is set up to cover birth control pills for
female students on campus.
Students who anticipate exceeding the allotted coverage would be
wise to purchase a health care discount plan for $62 per student
per policy year. The deadline to enroll in the Co-Health Group
Collegiate Plan is Sept. 19.
At $5 per pack, a student who needs only birth control pills and
no other prescription won’t have any trouble keeping within
the allowable coverage. However, a student needing allergy or
anti-depression/anxiety meds for example can expect to max out
their pharmaceutical coverage before year-end.
With the discount plan, students will save 35 percent on
brand-name drugs and up to 70 percent on generics at participating
network pharmacies. Or, students may save more through the
mail-order pharmacy, SAV-RX, than at the drug store.
Reduced prescription coverage with SHIP was part of the policy
agreement between Boise State and the new underwriter, Chesapeake
Life and Health Insurance. Branson said the previous underwriter,
North Carolina Mutual, went under in part because of the burden of
covering meds.
“We could never get that kind of coverage
again—they’re out of business,” Branson said.
Branson attributes the change in prescription coverage to an
industry-wide increase in prescription costs.
“The pharmaceutical companies are paying for improvements
in research and a lot of liability recently.”
The discount plan also includes vision and dental coverage.
Again, students must use one of the designated providers to
activate the discount plan. Many national and regional chains as
well as some independents participate in the vision plan.
Participating dentists are a bit scarcer in the area.
Eye exams are usually discounted by 10 percent; frames and
lenses are discounted anywhere from 20-60 percent.
The Dental Discount Plan operates on a reduced fee per procedure
basis. Each dental procedure has a usual fee, usually set by the
regional Dental Society, which is the amount a dentist bills to
you. Usual savings work out to about 50-60 percent.
Unlike SHIP, which is not extended to part-time students, the
discount plan is available to all. Students can enroll in the
Co-Health Group Collegiate Plan by obtaining a short application
from Health Wellness and Counseling Services, or enrolling online
at the Co-Health’s website.
Tips for navigating Student Health Insurance
• Your insurance coverage is with the Chesapeake Life &
Health Insurance Company.
• The maximum benefits on your policy are $65,000 unless
you add additional catastrophic coverage. Catastrophic coverage is
available during the fall open enrollment period only.
• A $500 deductible per academic year applies to students
who choose a doctor outside the SHIP provider network without prior
referral from the HWC. You must receive a new referral for ongoing
illnesses each school year.
• The $500 deductible also applies if you use a hospital
emergency room in a non life-threatening emergency. If you require
medical attention when HWC is closed, you can use Primary Health
Clinic at all locations.
• If you are referred outside of HWC, the insurance will
cover $40 for a new patient evaluation, and $80 if the initial
visit is billed as a consultation. You will want to speak directly
with the insurance billing department when you go to an outside
physician to make sure you understand their billing procedure.
• A copy of your referral will be forwarded to Chesapeake
by the insurance billing department to assist you with processing
your claim. You are also instructed to turn in your referral to the
billing department of any outside health care provider from which
you receive services.
• If you have a claim that is not being paid, contact the
SHIP office immediately. Don’t just assume billing problems
will go away.
Jessica Adams
Managing Editor
The Arbiter
