Health Insurance in Dental School?

[beannaithe]

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I've got another (sort of random) question.

What have you guys done about health insurance in dental school? And what are the best ways to get it (by yourself or through school)?

I've got a health problem that requires a lot of prescription meds a month so I'm hoping that I can get some kind of insurance so I don't have to pay for my pills out of pocket.

Thanks for any advice you can give me! 😀

 

[billiken10]

I've got another (sort of random) question.

What have you guys done about health insurance in dental school? And what are the best ways to get it (by yourself or through school)?

I've got a health problem that requires a lot of prescription meds a month so I'm hoping that I can get some kind of insurance so I don't have to pay for my pills out of pocket.

Thanks for any advice you can give me! 😀

I'm planning on getting health insurance through the university once school starts. I don't know of any other options really, but I have found that schools generally have pretty good arrangements for students regarding health insurance. I hope that is true for dental students as well!

 

[yumimartian]

I've worked at a dental office for many years and have seen UCSF medical/pharmacy students as patients with dental insurance through UCSF. I'm assuming that these med/pharm students also have an option of being medically insured. Anyways, if a med/pharm student gets dental/medical insurance, I don't see why a dental student wouldn't have an equal opportunity to obtain it as well. Hope this helps.

-Yumi

 

[ItsGavinC]

Medicaid (you qualify). 🙂

Your school will probably have a decent plan to hook you up with.

 

[beannaithe]

Medicaid (you qualify). 🙂

Really qualify for Medicaid. Is that because I'll be making negative money? 😛

 

[Dentist 2 be]

Really qualify for Medicaid. Is that because I'll be making negative money? 😛

I had an ex-bf with a cystic fibrosis and his medication was extremely expensive. He was still in college so he had to apply for Medicaid being that his parents could not afford his meds, which were about 2grand a month. From what I remember, first you have to apply for public assistance. You get public assistance if you can prove to the govt that you do not work and have a severe medical condition. If you are given public assistance (about $700 a month, helathcare, and other benefits) you are put on the waiting list for Medicaid. It takes about 10-15 months. However, once you recieve Medicaid, Medicaid will reimburse you the diff between how much they will be giving you per month and how much p.a. was giving you, from the time that you applied for Medicaid in addition to your monthly payments from Medicaid. Basically, you will make a hefty amount of money.

However, there are many quirks and procedures that you must take before applying for public assistance. When you are apply for public assistance you are also apply for a true independent status meaning that you have no contact with your parents whatsoever. You have to show proof of where you live and basically look like crap during the interview to show them that you are really poor and absolutely need the help of the govt.

GOOD LUCK.

 

[Col Sanders]

From what I remember, first you have to apply for public assistance. You get public assistance if you can prove to the govt that you do not work and have a severe medical condition.
However, there are many quirks and procedures that you must take before applying for public assistance. GOOD LUCK.

Every state is different with regard to medicaid disbursements, procedures, policies and qualifications, so for medicaid ask someone in that state becase it varies greatly. New York I am sure is alot different than many other states. Medicaid generally will cover children easily but require alot to cover an adult. I know many dental students on medicaid for more than just health ins. and it can be a worthwhile avenue for some. With regard to health ins, the best thing to do is ask around at your dental school what and how people get health ins, because companies vary greatly state to state. Furthermore everything is dependent on whether your single or have wife and kids, even age. Single is easy and cheap, wife and kids complicate it. You also have to decide if you want HMO (100%)coverge, PPO (50-90%) coverage or many of the other types of programs out there like health savings accounts. What kind of deductible can you handle? Do you have alot of health problems or not? Are you female or married and want maternity coverage? Another question to ask is are you affiliated with organizations like USAA (ex military and their families) or ASDA (some ok plans, you just have to sign up and pay yearly dues to qualify) or can you still qualify under parents plans(most plans will stop covering at 18,21,22 and 24 years old)?
Personally my wife and I researched some of the major HMO's in town(vegas) and purchased the cheapest 100% coverage plan available, my HMO covers 100% and costs alot less than the standard school offered plan that covers 70-80%. I have never had to use it, though I probably should have a yearly physical. My wife however is about to have our second child with it and we are safe if anything major happens during the pregnancy or to the son post birth. We even researched how to purchase the plan. If purchased as a family plan it would have cost us $250 more a month than purchasing separate individual plans for me my wife and our daughter. I dont know why the insurance company does it this way but it worked out for us.
Good luck, I know the path to finding health ins. can be a long confusing road.

 

[Dentist 2 be]

Every state is different with regard to medicaid disbursements, procedures, policies and qualifications, so for medicaid ask someone in that state becase it varies greatly.

That's very true. It really does depend on the state!

 

[beannaithe]

Thanks for the advice. 🙂 Technically, I'm still dependent on my parents given my undergrad and nonworking status. I have healthcare under them until I'm 23, but it gets a little sketchy after there.

I'm looking for pretty much something that would let me see a decent doctor while covering my perscriptions (like 2000+ a month w/o insurance). And I'm kind of stuck on the insurance I have now because whatever other company I'd go to would declare me to have a "pre-existing condition" and wouldn't pay for anything for like a year.

It's a long ways away, but I've just been thinking about it lately. Maybe it'll get better when I get there. 😳

 

[beannaithe]

My wife however is about to have our second child with it and we are safe if anything major happens during the pregnancy or to the son post birth. .

THanks so much! Congrats on the baby! and good luck! 🙂

 

[Dentist 2 be]

Thanks for the advice. 🙂 Technically, I'm still dependent on my parents given my undergrad and nonworking status. I have healthcare under them until I'm 23, but it gets a little sketchy after there.

I'm looking for pretty much something that would let me see a decent doctor while covering my perscriptions (like 2000+ a month w/o insurance). And I'm kind of stuck on the insurance I have now because whatever other company I'd go to would declare me to have a "pre-existing condition" and wouldn't pay for anything for like a year.

It's a long ways away, but I've just been thinking about it lately. Maybe it'll get better when I get there. 😳

I would really look into public assistance. Most ins will probably not cover you do to the preexisting condition and the fact that your medication is so expensive.

BTW, he was dependent also until he filed for independent status via public assistance. You will just have to be able to ask some one (a relative) if you can say that you live with them. Believe me it's worth it. You will probably get crazy financial aid too when you go to dental school.