SHIP pharmaceutical coverage designed specifically for birth control

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.

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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

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