Information On The Coronavirus

Recent Updates: The New School has released its academic plan for 2020-21 and a phased reopening plan for its New York campus. Please check the Parsons Paris website for information about our Paris campus. Learn more.

  • Health and Vision Insurance

    The university offers a health care plan with UnitedHealthcare (UHC). This plan does not require the designation of a primary care physician and does not require referrals for visits to specialists. Please review the Health and Dental Eligibility page for eligibility requirements.

    Once you are enrolled, you will receive a UHC ID with your covered dependents (if any) listed on it at the home address on record with The New School. 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's member portal, www.myuhc.com, and registering with the ID number on the front of your UHC card.

    If you have questions about coverage, call UHC at 888.322.2646. The New School Health Plan Notice of Privacy Practices provides information on the use and disclosure of protected health information and your rights under HIPAA privacy laws. To obtain forms and documents related to health care coverage, go to Benefits Forms and Documents.

  • Choice EPO Plan

    The Choice EPO Plan covers services received from UHC participating (in-network) providers. There is no coverage for services provided by nonparticipating providers except in the case of emergency care. To find EPO in-network providers, go to www.myuhc.com, select "Find Physician, Laboratory or Facility" under "Links and Tools," and then select "All United Healthcare Plans." Then select "Choice." You can also call UHC at 888.322.2646 for provider information. Primary care physician visits (including visits to outpatient mental health providers) require a $25 co-payment, and specialist visits require a $40 co-payment. There is no co-payment for annual preventive care services.  There is also a $100 calendar-year in-network deductible (the amount you pay in a calendar year for certain services before the services are paid).

    The Choice EPO Summary Plan Description (SPD) and Choice EPO Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and COVID-19 Notice of Temporary Summary of Benefit Changes provide additional information about the plan.

    Prescription Drug Program

    UHC's Prescription Drug Program is administered by Optum Rx. Present your UHC member ID card when filling a prescription at the pharmacy. The following co-payment amounts apply for a one-month (30-day) prescription at the retail pharmacy:

    • $15 co-payment for tier 1 medications
    • $50 co-payment for tier 2 medications
    • $100 co-payment for tier 3 medications

    To determine the co-payment tier associated with your medication, view the current Optum Rx Advantage Prescription Drug List. Read the document carefully, as pre-authorization and quantity limitations may apply. A notation of "SDP" indicates the Select Designated Pharmacy Program, a notation of "ST" indicates the Progressive Rx Program, and a notation of "DSN" indicates the Specialty Pharmacy Program.

    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) prescription for 2.5 times the retail monthly co-payment amount noted above, enabling you to save money on your prescriptions. To begin mail order delivery, complete an Optum Rx Mail Order Form and submit it to Optum with your prescription.

    If you have questions about your prescription drug coverage or the mail order delivery program, call UHC at 888.322.2646.

    Routine Vision Care Benefits

    UnitedHealthcare participants are automatically 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 routine vision services either from participating (in-network) vision providers or from providers who do not participate in the UHC vision network (out-of-network). To search for in-network providers, go to www.myuhcvision.com and log in using your UnitedHealthcare member ID number. You should also print your vision care member ID card once logged in to present at the time you receive routine vision services.

    The Vision Care Plan covers an examination and new lenses (contact and glasses) every 12 months and new frames every 24 months. Review the Summary Plan Description and Plan Summary for coverage details. Call UnitedHealthcare Vision at 800.638.3120 for additional information.

    UHC Member Portal and United Health Allies

    Once you receive your ID card, you can register at UHC's member portal, www.myuhc.com. There you can view plan benefits and claims information, complete your personal health record, and gain access to UnitedHealth Allies, a discount program that can save you money on a wide range of health-related products and services not covered by most medical plans. Review the Health Discount Flyer.

    UHC's member portal, www.myuhc.com, also features a tool called MyClaims Manager that provides an enhanced view of your claims and account balances. MyClaims Manager can be accessed through the "Manage My Claims” button or "View Account Balances” button on your home page. MyClaims Manager also allows you to use credit or debit cards, bank accounts, or an HSA to pay your providers online for any out-of-pocket expenses. Review the UHC MyClaims Manager Flyer for more information about this tool.

×