Graduate Student Health Care Coverage

[GiantSteps]

What information can anyone provide about health care coverage in graduate school. Is graduate student student health care coverage generally the same at most schools? Is this generally covered by the school along with tution and stipend or is it supposed to be paid separately. If not, this could be a major expense about which few people have commented. Also, are immediate family members (children and spouses) usually included or eligible within in these plans? If I missed a previous Thread on this topic, I apologize.

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[JockNerd]

Existence/cost/coverage is different everywhere.

 

[GiantSteps]

Existence/cost/coverage is different everywhere.

True, but there must be some similarties which would be helpful to compare. I want some idea of what is being offered and how much people are paying.

I just looked up one school which has 1. health services offered on campus in it's health science division (not sure on price), 2. an additional student health care plan ($1,320/ year), and 3. spouse or partner coverage $2,513/year. I forgot the coverage to include a child.

 

[sukurux]

My externship which is connected to the university provided me health insurance at no cost other than the deductible of course.

 

[cara susanna]

My program offers it for free to people with assistantships.

 

[psy86]

We get coverage under a large national name brad HMO for a nominal fee each semester (like under $100).

I'm sure it's the best deal for health insurance I'll ever have in my life.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I had my university's coverage and it was relatively inexpensive ($2,000/yr?), but it paled in comparison to what I was use to in the private sector....so that was an adjustment. You should definitely shop around as some providers have pretty decent individual plans that may be a better fit. I'd suggest looking for an insurance person who covers multiple companies, in addition to looking at your Uni's coverage.

 

[GiantSteps]

I had my university's coverage and it was relatively inexpensive ($2,000/yr?), but it paled in comparison to what I was use to in the private sector....so that was an adjustment. You should definitely shop around as some providers have pretty decent individual plans that may be a better fit. I'd suggest looking for an insurance person who covers multiple companies, in addition to looking at your Uni's coverage.

T4C,

Do you mean that it might be better to reject the university offered health insurance (if one must pay) and buy through another company?

Anyone,

It it correct that no school would also cover the cost of a graduate student's spouse or dependent but would just allow the student to put the spouse/ dependent on the plan? Of course, I realize that if a spouse is working and has health coverage, that money can be saved by going on that health plan.

 

[Eruca]

I think our insurance sucks. (fortunately I haven't had to use it in several years due to spouse's employer). The university requires you have some type of insurance, so if you don't, you're automatically enrolled in their program. It's rather cheap, only about $900 per semester, but doesn't include dental or vision. You see the Drs. over at the Univ Health Center. They are fairly good services, but understaffed, and can be hard to get in. The prescriptions are very cheap.

You can purchase a plan for spouse/dependents, but at much higher cost: insurance for spouse was $1580 per semester, and insurance for each dependent was $885 per semester (and these are #s from a few years ago). Our graduate website gives links to other private plans in the area, since they realize the coverage is not full, and not so hot.

Graduate students need to unionize!
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=617165

 

[Psych1212]

T4C,

Do you mean that it might be better to reject the university offered health insurance (if one must pay) and buy through another company?

I've been told this by students at 3 different programs...All thought they paid too much for too little coverage and decided to go with a private provider.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I've been told this by students at 3 different programs...All thought they paid too much for too little coverage and decided to go with a private provider.

Most university plans I've seen are lacking, which is why I suggested looking elsewhere. Some people don't care, but the one or two times I used it during my time....it took FOREVER, and it was lackluster. I admittedly came from a maxed out PPO (job perk), but the university coverage was sub-par for even average insurance. Some private insurances can offer more for about the same price...but you need to shop around.

 

[Prsstnt]

What information can anyone provide about health care coverage in graduate school. Is graduate student student health care coverage generally the same at most schools? Is this generally covered by the school along with tution and stipend or is it supposed to be paid separately. If not, this could be a major expense about which few people have commented. Also, are immediate family members (children and spouses) usually included or eligible within in these plans? If I missed a previous Thread on this topic, I apologize.

GiantSteps, Thanks for the topic. I need coverage for my spouse and child too and had similar questions.

I will explore private coverage, encouraged by the responses here. My only other option is to switch down to a 20 hr/week job, which will continue the wonderful insurance I have now.

 

[helga]

I'm moving from Canada to the states for grad school and I'm wondering what I constitutes good coverage?
The school I'm going to has a student health plan thats partially subsidized by the school and I'm trying to figure out if it would just be better to get a private plan
I've never had to pay for healthcare or deal with insurance companies much (except for vision and dental) so this is pretty new to me and I'd appreciate any advice!

 

[kyosukeshingure]

I know that the University of Illinois, Chicago provides health care at little cost for their graduate students that they award RA's/TA's to, it's part of the reason I chose to go there.

 

[toby jones]

I looked into this a little when I was considering applying to the US to do a PhD. I looked into it from the perspective of my getting a PhD scholarship. It seemed that the PhD scholarships included a health insurance package. It looked like the contents of the health insurance package varied according to the particular institution. The health care package typically looked quite good (pre-existing conditions weren't ruled out, provision for mental health, addiction, pregnancy etc).

That being said some universities required students to pay some kind of fee or levy each year (that wasn't covered by the scholarship) and in some instances that fee or levy was $1,000 (which is a considerable chunk of the scholarship).

Things may well be different if you are paying your own way through a program rather than doing the program on scholarship. I'd expect that paying your own way would include paying your own health insurance (unless there is a health package incorporated into your student fees - which seems to be the case for students generally?? Or, at least, there is a relatively cheap health insurance package typically available to students given the quality of the package).

Certain states (thinking NC in particular) have this wonderful thing called 'charity care' where the threshold for 'charity care' is around $26,000. In other words: All students (unless engaged in a great deal of work outside their studies) should qualify for 'charity care'.

I'd say you would need to look into this on a case by case basis. Be aware that there are often options that aren't so apparent from websites (e.g., like 'charity care').

With respect to spouse / dependents best I could figure there wasn't provision unless one was employed by the university (eg in the capacity of a lecturer / professor). TA / RA in particular didn't seem to get family benefits.

 

[Prsstnt]

I'm moving from Canada to the states for grad school and I'm wondering what I constitutes good coverage?
The school I'm going to has a student health plan thats partially subsidized by the school and I'm trying to figure out if it would just be better to get a private plan
I've never had to pay for healthcare or deal with insurance companies much (except for vision and dental) so this is pretty new to me and I'd appreciate any advice!

Helga,

I spoke to my DCT at FDU and got information of the company covering student healthcare. I called this company and asked them for coverage details - luckily they have this information on their website. The coverage would differ, but this may give you a idea
http://www.bollingercolleges.com/fdu/
Click on the "Your coverage" section on the left. You can compare such coverage with the quotes for coverage you get from private plans.

Speak to your college for their coverage details.