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Why is it important to have a United States Health Insurance Plan?
If you come from a country with a national health plan, it may not cover your care in the United States. Health care costs are rising at an exorbitant rate and one injury or illness can mean long-term financial distress for you and your family. The New School Student Health Insurance Plan protects you from financial hardship due to an illness or injury that may require costly or prolonged medical care. With The New School sponsored Student Health Insurance, an Aetna Open Choice Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan administered by Aetna Student Health, you are assured that your health plan is recognized by doctors and hospitals in the United States and that you have some financial protection from any unexpected or catastrophic medical costs. Such protection includes in-network* discounts and benefit coverage that dramatically reduce the cost of expensive medical care for you. Without insurance, you would be responsible for paying the entire amount which generally exceeds the cost of care in other countries.
*Providers (doctors, hospitals, labs, x-ray facilities, pharmacies, etc.) who belong to Aetna’s network are called preferred providers (also known as in-network providers). Providers who do not belong to Aetna’s network are called non-preferred providers (also known as out-of-network providers). Students can use preferred (in-network) or non-preferred (out-of-network) providers but using non-preferred providers will result in higher out-of-pocket expenses.
Does The New School Student Health Insurance Plan meet J-1 and F-1 Visa insurance requirements?
Yes, The New School Plan meets all of the requirements for students on J-1 Visas, and all recommendations for international students on F-1 Visas. Such benefits include, but are not limited to medical benefits of $500,000 for each accident or illness, a national prescription drug program, accessibility to local medical providers, unlimited Medical Evacuation, Return of Mortal Remains, Worldwide Emergency Travel Assistance and a $10,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit.
Who is eligible for the Student Health Insurance?
All degree, diploma, online only, visiting, mobility (study abroad), Lang and Parsons consortium, graduate certificate program, and both graduate and undergraduate degree program non-matriculating students are eligible. All eligible students are automatically charged. Milano branch campuses and Parsons Decorative Arts program, Washington, DC, are NOT eligible for the Student Insurance. Students must be registered for classes by the semester waiver deadline date to be eligible for the Student Insurance Plan.
What is Student Health Insurance and what does it cover?
You can pick up a 2009-2010 Student Accident and Sickness Plan Flyer and other insurance information at Student Health Services, Loeb Hall, 135 East 12th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10003. View the entire 2009-2010 Student Health Services and Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan Brochure online by accessing
www.aetnastudenthealth.com (click on "Find Your School"and enter 812804 as your policy number). It is your responsibility to understand the nature and scope of benefits and limitations as well as to abide by stated deadlines.
How much is the Student Health Insurance?
$1,714 for the 2009-2010 policy year. Students will be charged $691 the fall semester and $1,023 the spring semester.
Why do I have to pay the $250 Student Health Services Fee?
This fee enables students to use Medical, Counseling, and Health Education Services provided at The New School Student Health Services located at 135 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003, 212.229.1671. Most services provided at Student Health Services are free of charge. The $250 per semester fee is mandatory for all undergraduates enrolled in (6) six or more credits and all students enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan regardless of their place of study (e.g. online only, study abroad, etc.). An undergraduate enrolled in (6) six or more credits CANNOT waive this fee. This fee also includes a Basic Accident Plan (Plan 1) required by the university. The Basic Accident Plan covers students worldwide up to $10,000 per occurrence. This accident coverage is required by all undergraduates (6+ credits) enrolled at The New School, even if the student has his/her own personal insurance.
Does the Student Health Insurance cover me when I am off campus during semester breaks?
Yes, your coverage begins 12:01 a.m. August 20, 2009 and will terminate 12:01 a.m. August 20, 2010. You will be covered for the entire policy year, whether you are on or off campus. For students who enroll in the spring semester, coverage begins 12:01 a.m. January 15, 2010 and will terminate 12:01 a.m. August 20, 2010.
Does the Student Health Insurance Plan cover me if I am abroad?
Yes, The New School Student Health Insurance Plan does include worldwide coverage. As an active participant in the Aetna Student Accident & Sickness program, you now have access to emergency assistance services when you are traveling 100 miles away from campus or outside your country of residence. You can access On Call International Worldwide Emergency Travel Assistance Services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year during your policy effective period at: 866.525.1956 within the U.S., 603.328.1956 outside the U.S. On Call International provides a wide array of services to assist you in the event of an emergency, including evacuation and repatriation services. Please take special note that when travel takes place outside of the United States, The New School Student Health Insurance Plan will cover expenses for any accident or sickness at the “non-preferred” (out-of-network) benefit rate, which means that the New School Student Health Insurance Plan will cover 60% of the “reasonable charge” for any accident or sickness related event. Emergency Travel Assistance Services are covered 100% as long as services are coordinated through On Call International.
When will I receive my Aetna Insurance ID Card?
Once the insurance company receives your name and student information from The New School they will begin to issue insurance ID cards to all students. The insurance company will receive the final list of students the day after the waiver deadline date (students who pre-register receive their ID cards earlier).
Please note, cards are mailed to students’ official mailing addresses and will not be mailed internationally. Students must update their official mailing address through MyNewSchool Online Services. As an Aetna Student Health Insurance member you have access to
Aetna Navigator™, your secure member website, packed with personalized benefits and health information. You can take full advantage of an interactive website to complete a variety of self-service transactions online, including printing a temporary ID card, requesting a member ID card, and viewing claim Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements. Register by visiting
www.aetnastudenthealth.com (click on “Find Your School” and enter 812804 as your Policy Number).
Aetna Navigator™ access is available via a tab on the left-hand side.
Need help with registration? Registration assistance is available toll free, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time at 800.225.3375.
How can I find an Aetna Doctor and Aetna Pharmacy?
Students must access Aetna
DocFind by clicking on the
DocFind link at
www.aetnastudenthealth.com (click on “Find Your School” and enter 812804 as your Policy Number).
How do I get my prescription filled?
Students must present their Aetna Insurance ID card to the pharmacy in order to receive a prescription. Students who have not received their insurance ID card may obtain a prescription from a preferred Aetna Pharmacy by having the pharmacist contact Aetna Pharmacy Management at 800.238.6279 to verify he/she is covered. Students not yet updated in Aetna’s system must purchase the prescription and submit the receipt and prescription stub with a completed Aetna Pharmacy Drug Claim Form to be reimbursed for covered medications directly from Aetna. Students are updated within Aetna’s system approximately 2-4 weeks after registering for classes. Get an Aetna claim form by accessing
www.aetnastudenthealth.com (click on “Find Your School” and enter 812804 as your Policy Number).
I paid for Student Health Insurance, why was I told my insurance coverage has terminated?
Enrollment updates are done at the beginning of every semester to ensure ONLY registered students are enrolled in the Student Health Insurance. During these update periods, all students’ coverage will appear as “terminated” as of the last day of the most recent coverage period. Aetna will not update enrollment information until after the student has registered for classes. Once the update is complete the student status will reflect no lapse in coverage and students may submit any recent or denied claims for reimbursement. Updates take approximately 2-4 weeks after class registration.
I have my own insurance, I do not want to be enrolled in the Student Health Plan, what do I do?
Students who do not wish to be enrolled MUST submit an Online Waiver Form by the appropriate deadline by going to
www.universityhealthplans.com (select the "New School" link).
Do I need to complete and submit an Online Waiver Form every year?
Yes, an Online Waiver Form must be submitted once EVERY academic year. Students who waived Student Health Insurance and/or Student Health Services Fees in the fall semester, and the fees were removed, will be automatically waived for the spring semester the day after you register for classes. No action is necessary. New students admitted for the 2010 spring semester need to complete this online form for the academic year before the spring waiver deadline date of February 22, 2010. Students who miss the 2009 fall waiver deadline date of September 29, 2009 are responsible for payment of the health fee(s). (See previous question on how to waive.) Because health care in New York City is expensive, international students who do not possess adequate mental health and medical care coverage are strongly encouraged to remain enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. If you waive The New School Student Health Insurance or are ineligible for it, you will be required to provide a copy of your health insurance to International Student Services for your file (please check that this insurance is comparable to that offered by The New School in terms of benefits, and make sure to have your health insurance information in English with the U.S. contact number on you at all times).