Thinking about your Christmas wish list this year? How about the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan, now only $857.
All students must decide whether or not they will use the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan through Wardenburg Medical Center or find outside health coverage for the upcoming semester. Many students are covered under plans through their parents, but others seek alternatives to the gold plan because of the price tag that comes with it.
The gold plan through the university allows students to receive physician care on-campus and avoiding the hassle of travel. Although the plan is priced well above many other short-term insurance plans, the level of services covered outweighs many other plans individual students would be eligible for.
“We are a student’s healthcare center, and therefore, we are focused on students and that particular age group,” said Carol Delker, manager of the medical clinic at Wardenburg.
Delker said students who choose to utilize the university’s health plans cannot beat the convenience Wardenburg offers. She said the plan requires no pre-qualifying criteria and even students with pre-existing illness or ailments would not be refused from the plan.
According to the gold plan, there is no deductible for services within Wardenburg and it is only $200 for services at an approved outside provider. Students have to pay a $10 co-payment with each visit, which is also cheaper than many other insurance plans.
“A $10 co-pay is the lowest I’ve ever heard of,” Delker said.
The gold plan also covers women’s health services, optical and dental to a certain extent. If you are planning to undergo dental treatments or services such as invisalign braces or dental implants, you may check if your insurance will cover the costs. If you need prosthodontist treatment or other advanced dental procedures, make sure to check with your insurance provider if these are covered.
Out-of-state students still covered under their parent’s insurance can still take advantage of Wardenburg’s services. The Wardenburg Campus Care Plan allows such students to have unlimited visits for $150 a semester. This is not a true health care plan and the co-payment is only $5 a visit.
Delker said students with certain pre-existing health conditions that cannot be treated at Wardenburg would probably not benefit from university health insurance. She said they have excellent choices for specialized care outside of campus, but not all are covered under the plan.
There are numerous options for students when considering health insurance for semester. Tonik, a temporary plan through Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, is geared toward people ages 20 to 29. These plans are affordable and do not require a comprehensive exam, according to Tonik’s Web site.
Tonik has three levels of coverage, ranging from $96 a month to $132 a month. All of their plans include a $20 to $40 co-payment for doctor each visit.
If a person elects to go with one of Tonik’s cheaper plans, he or she is limited to four doctor visits per year and a $3,000 to $5,000 deductible. Tonik’s “calculated risk-taker” plan for $132 a month has unlimited visits and a $1,500 deductible. This means that all medical bills up to $1,500 come out of the patient’s pocket.
To look for a temporary health insurance plan that fits a particular need or lifestyle, a good place to start is www.ehealthinsurance.com. This search engine can help find the right plan simply by typing in gender, date of birth, tobacco use and student status.
The search will find a wide array of health plans starting at around $66 a month for students ages 20 to 22. The service provides locations the plan covers and all important information regarding health care providers.
