Billing & Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I be seen at the Student Health Center if I do not have the university health insurance?
- What is a co-pay?
- What is a deductible?
- What is Coinsurance?
- If I have the university health insurance, do I have to be seen at the Student Health Center?
- How do I get an insurance card from the university health insurance?
- Do I need a copy of my bill?
- Do I need to bill my insurance, or is it automatically done for me?
- Is there an example of how to fill out an insurance form?
- Will my parent/guardian(s) have access to my billed info (e.g. prescriptions, STD Testing)?
- What does it take to waive the insurance?
- The insurance packet is hard to read. Is there an easy to read instruction sheet?
- How
do I get to the insurance office?
CAN I BE SEEN AT THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER IF I DO NOT HAVE
THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH INSURANCE?
The UCSC Student Health Center
is available for use by all registered students regardless of
their health insurance coverage. Registration fees subsidize,
in part, many of the services. Services which are not subsidized
include laboratory tests, X-rays, immunizations, medications,
routine physicals and clearances. All fees incurred during your
visit are charged to your university account unless other arrangements
are made at the time of service.
WHAT IS A CO-PAY?
A
cost sharing arrangement where a person pays
a specific charge for a specific medical service -- say $20 for
an office visit or $10 for a prescription -- with the balance
covered by insurance.
WHAT IS A DEDUCTIBLE?
The amount of money you must pay out of pocket each
year to cover your medical care expenses before your insurance
policy starts paying.
WHAT IS COINSURANCE?
The amount you are required to pay for medical care after you
have met your deductible. The coinsurance rate is usually expressed
as a percentage of billed charges. For example, if the insurance
company pays 85 percent of the claim, you pay 15 percent.
IF I HAVE THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH INSURANCE, DO I HAVE TO BE SEEN
AT THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER?
Yes. The Student Health Center is
the primary care provider for the student insurance plan (i.e.,
UHIP, GSHIP). Students can make an appointment with a clinician
or come in directly to our urgent care facility as needed. If
necessary, the Student Health Center clinician will refer you
to an outside provider.
In the event of an emergency, after hours, or if you are outside
a 25 mile radius, services can be obtained elsewhere. In these
instances, students should try to utilize a network provider
for their best benefit; however, you have coverage wherever you
go. Students should contact the Student Insurance Office on the
next business day to ensure proper claims processing. To find
a network provider in your area, go to www.bluecrossca.com or
call 1-800-888-2108.
(For insurance coverage from the 2003-2004 year please reference
the CCN Network at www.ccnusa.com)
HOW DO I GET AN INSURANCE CARD FROM THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH INSURANCE?
You
insurance card will be mailed to you directly from the insurance
company. If it is lost or misplaced, contact the Student Insurance
Office to request a temporary card.
DO I NEED A COPY OF MY BILL?
If you have a private insurance plan, you need a copy of your
bill to file a reimbursement claim for applicable charges. If
you have student insurance, it is for your records.
This year, the Student Health Center has implemented a new scanning system. Within a week of your Health Center visit, you will receive a detailed statement from us showing charges that have been applied to your student account. This statement is for you to use in obtaining reimbursement from your insurance. We will send this statement to the address you have given us at the time of your visit.
DO I NEED TO BILL MY INSURANCE, OR IS IT AUTOMATICALLY DONE
FOR ME?
The Student Health Center does not bill private insurance
plans. If you have private insurance, you need to submit your
bill to the insurance company for reimbursement.
Students with university health insurance do not need to submit Health Center charges to the student insurance company. The charges are billed to the student's account which they are responsible to pay. The claims are submitted to the insurance company for the student. Reimbursments from the insurance company are mailed directly to the student.
Students with private health insurance coverage should follow the procedure outlined by your own insurance plan.
The Health Center Insurance Office is available for all students to assist them in this process.
IS THERE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO FILL OUT AN INSURANCE CLAIM FORM?
There are sample claim forms available at the Health Center
Insurance Office. The Health Center Insurance Office staff is
available to review claim forms and assist you in the reimbursement
process.
WILL MY PARENT/GUARDIAN(S) HAVE ACCESS TO MY BILLED INFO (E.G.
PRESCRIPTIONS, STD TESTING)?
No, not from the Health Center. Specific
information relating to your visit is confidential and copies
of bills will not be released unless the student requests them.
Fees you are responsible for will be billed to your university
account unless other arrangements are made at the time of service.
This university bill is sent to your permanent address. Although
the descriptions of services provided at the Health Center are
very general (e.g. Health Center, pharmacy), anyone reading your
bill will see this information. Also, if you are covered by a
parent/guardian(s) private health insurance plan and submit a
claim to that insurance for reimbursement, they will have access
to more detailed information.
If you would like your Health Center activity to remain absolutely confidential, you may pay for services at the time of service and opt to not have any charges billed to insurance.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WAIVE THE INSURANCE?
To accept enrollment in the UCSC sponsored student health insurance
plan (USHIP) no action is necessary; you will automatically be
enrolled, and coverage will begin 9/16/06. A booklet describing
the plan benefits and conditions was included with the summer information
packet sent to all new and returning students and is available
here.
To opt out of the UCSC sponsored health insurance plan for 2006-2007 you must complete an on line waiver. All waivers are now done on-line. To waive, log on to the UCSC Student portal at http://my.ucsc.edu using your user name and password. The Student Health Insurance Waiver link is found under “Academic News.” If you need help please call the Student Insurance Office at 831-459-2389.
HOW DO I GET TO THE INSURANCE OFFICE?
The Student Insurance Office is located on the second floor
of the Student Health Center. From our first floor lobby, students
can follow the signs to the elevator or stairs to take you up
to the second floor.