The university offers four health care plans with UnitedHealthcare (UHC). None of these plans requires designation of a primary care physician or referrals to see specialists. Refer to the Health Care Plan Comparison Chart (PDF) to view the differences in coverage between the plans, and refer to the information below for specifics on each plan. If you have questions about coverage, call UHC at 888.322.2646.
Once you are enrolled, you will receive a UHC ID with your covered dependents (if any) listed on it at your home address on record. Present your ID card whenever you receive medical services or fill a prescription at the pharmacy. Once you become a member you can find information about eligibility, benefits, claims payments, discounts, and special programs by going to the UHC members portal, www.myuhc.com, and registering with the ID number on the front of your UHC card.
To download forms and documents related to health care and prescription drug coverage go to Benefits Forms and Documents.
Choice Plus 500 and Choice Plus 1000
The Choice Plus 500 and Choice Plus 1000 are point-of-service (POS) plans that allow you to receive care either from UHC participating (in-network) providers or providers who do not participate in the UHC provider network (out-of-network).
The in-network coverage and co-payments for the two plans are the same. There is a $30 co-payment for in-network primary care physician office visits and a $50 co-payment for in-network specialist office visits. There is no co-payment for annual preventive care services. To find Choice Plus 500 and Choice Plus 1000 in-network providers go to www.uhc.com, select Find a Doctor and then UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus. You can also call UHC at 888.322.2646 for provider information.
You can obtain care from out-of-network providers, but at a greater cost. The difference between Choice Plus 500 and Choice Plus 1000 is the calendar year out-of-network deductible (the amount you pay in a calendar year for out-of-network services prior to expenses being considered for reimbursement). The calendar year deductibles are
- Choice Plus 500: $500 individual/$1,000 family
- Choice Plus 1000: $1,000 individual/$2,000 family
Thereafter the plans pay 70 percent of the Usual and Customary Rate (UCR); you are responsible for the remaining 30 percent of the UCR plus any billed amount exceeding the UCR. You must complete and submit to UHC a Reimbursement Claim Form (PDF) to receive reimbursement for out-of-network services.
The Summaries of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) below provide additional information on these plan.
Choice EPO Plan
The Choice EPO Plan covers only services received from UHC participating (in-network) providers. There is no coverage for services provided by non-participating providers except in the case of emergency care. To find EPO in-network providers go to www.uhc.com, select Find a Doctor and then UnitedHealthcare Choice. You can also call UHC at 888.322.2646 for provider information. There is no co-payment for annual preventive care services. Otherwise, office visits to a primary care physician require a $25 co-payment. Specialist visits require a $40 co-payment.
The Choice EPO Summary of Benefits and Coverage (PDF) provides additional information on the plan.
High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account
The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) allows you to receive care either from UHC participating (in-network) providers or providers who do not participate in the UHC network (out-of-network). To find HDHP in-network providers go to www.uhc.com, select Find a Doctor and then UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus. You can also call UHC at 888.322.2646 for provider information.
Unlike the other UHC plans, the HDHP has a calendar year in-network deductible and in-network co-insurance (co-payments do not apply) in addition to a calendar year out-of-network deductible and co-insurance. The deductible is the amount you pay in a calendar year prior to expenses being considered for reimbursement. The only services not subject to the deductible are in-network annual preventive care services. All other expenses, including prescriptions, are not considered for reimbursement until the calendar year deductible is met.
The calendar year deductibles are:
- In-network: $2,000 individual/$4,000 family
- Out-of-network: $2,000 individual/$4,000 family
Thereafter the plan pays 90 percent of the contracted rate for in-network services; you pay the remaining 10 percent. For out-of-network services, the plan pays 70 percent of the Usual and Customary Rate (UCR); you pay the remaining 30 percent of the UCR plus any billed amount exceeding the UCR. You must complete and submit to UHC a Reimbursement Claim Form (PDF) to receive reimbursement for out-of-network services.
The HDHP Summary of Benefits and Coverage (PDF) provides information on plan coverage.
If you enroll in the HDHP, you can open a Health Savings Account (HSA). The HSA is an account to which the university contributes and to which you may contribute to pay for qualified health care-related expenses not covered by the plan. The 2013 maximum allowable contribution maximum is $3,250 for those enrolled in employee-only coverage and $6,450 for those enrolled in family coverage. The maximum allowable contribution includes both employee and employer contributions.
If you enroll for employee-only coverage, the university contributes a maximum annual amount of $750 to the HSA. If you enroll for family coverage, the university contributes a maximum annual amount of $1,500 to the HSA. You must complete an HSA enrollment form and submit it to Optum Health Bank to open your HSA. University contributions will not begin until your account is opened. Please note that if you open your HSA after the January 1, the annual university contribution will be prorated according to the date The New School is notified that your account has been opened.
You can choose to make pre-tax payroll contributions to your HSA by completing the HSA contribution form and submitting it to the Benefits Department. You can also make after-tax contributions to your HSA by submitting contributions with the required contribution form directly to Optum Health Bank.
Please note that if you enroll in the HDHP with HSA, you cannot enroll in The New School's health care flexible spending account (FSA). For important information about HSAs please refer to the health savings accounts (HSA) section of IRS publication 969.
Prescription Drug Program
UHC's Prescription Drug Program is administered by Optum Rx. When filling a prescription at the pharmacy, present your UHC member ID card. The program has a three-tier co-payment structure, requiring the following co-payments for a one-month or 30-day supply at the retail pharmacy:
- $15 co-payment for tier 1 medications ($10 for those enrolled in HDHP)
- $25 co-payment for tier 2 medications
- $50 co-payment for tier 3 medications
To determine the co-payment tier associated with your medication, view the 2013 Optum Rx Advantage Prescription Drug List (PDF). Read the document carefully; pre-authorizations and quantity limitations may apply.
Prescriptions for medications taken on an ongoing basis (such as those for high cholesterol and high blood pressure) can be filled through the Optum Rx Mail Order Delivery Program. This program allows you to purchase a three-month (90-day) supply of your medication for twice the retail monthly co-payment amount. To begin mail order delivery, complete an Optum Rx Mail Order Form (PDF) and submit it to Optum with your prescription.
If you have questions about your prescription drug coverage, call UHC at 888.322.2646.
Vision Care Benefits
UnitedHealthcare participants are automatically be enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare Vision Plan at no additional cost. (You must be enrolled in the health care plan to receive vision care benefits; there is no option to enroll separately.) The plan allows you to receive care either from participating (in-network) providers or providers who do not participate in the UHC vision network (out-of-network). To search for in-network providers, go to www.myuhcvision.com. Vision care covers an examination and new lenses (contact and glasses) every 12 months and new frames every 24 months. Review the Vision Plan Summary for details on how services and eye wear are covered under the plan.
UHC Member Portal and UnitedHealth Allies
Once enrolled in UHC member, you can register at UHC's member portal, www.myuhc.com. There, you can view plan benefits, claims information, complete your personal health record, and gain access to UnitedHealth Allies, a health discount program that can save you money on a wide range of health-related products and services not covered by most medical plans.
Health Care Coverage for New School Students Who Are Also Employees
If you are a student in a New School degree program and are also a member of the full-time faculty, full-time administrative staff, or regular part-time (20+ hours per week) administrative staff, you must enroll for employee health-care coverage at whatever point you become eligible; your student health insurance coverage (if you are enrolled) will be waived automatically. At that point, you are no longer eligible to receive services from the Student Health Center. Student health insurance coverage for a dependent (spouse, domestic partner, or child) enrolled in a degree program is not waived automatically. If you choose to cover such a dependent on your employee insurance, he or she must file the proper forms at registration to waive student health insurance. For more information, including instructions for waiving student health insurance for a dependent, go to www.newschool.edu/studentservices/health; contact Student Health Services at 212.229.1671, option 3; or visit the Student Health Center.