Newly Admitted Students – Health Insurance Requirement Effective Fall 2011
- Are you currently covered by a health insurance plan and would like to provide your required health insurance information and waive the Aetna Student Health Plan coverage?
- Would you like additional information regarding other Health Plan Options?
Overview of New Requirement:
New health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act now make it possible for young adults to remain on their parents’ health care plan until their 26th birthday if the policy covers dependent children. Because of this, universities around the country are urging their students to remain covered under their parents’ health insurance policy through age 26. In cases where this option is not feasible, many universities are requiring their students to purchase a minimum level of health insurance coverage.
Here and at other universities, we have seen the impact that being uninsured can have on college students. While MSU’s Olin Student Health Center allows three primary care professional service visits each school year at no additional cost to students, the failure to have adequate health insurance may cause some students to defer care for some medical problems until they have advanced to more serious – and potentially more costly – problems to treat. Furthermore, care at Olin does not cover the cost of laboratory or radiology services, medical procedures, or medications. Without health insurance, students may incur major medical bills that seriously impair or, in the worst cases, completely halt academic progress. Additionally, referral to community medical providers for severe or acute problems may become increasingly difficult for students without adequate health insurance.
Because of these concerns, MSU is requiring that all newly admitted students have a minimum level of health insurance coverage, effective fall of 2011. If you are not covered under a family policy, personal policy, or Medicaid, newly admitted students (including newly admitted to a level) will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Plan and will be charged on their spring registration bill if they do not provide proof of insurance which meets the waiver criteria.
All students must submit information about their health care insurance by completing the online waiver application. The deadline to waive the Aetna Student Health Plan coverage is January 31, 2012. However, if you do not complete this waiver process by November 9, 2011, you will automatically be enrolled in the MSU-sponsored student insurance plan and $940 will be billed to your spring registration bill.
NEW INFORMATION - The deadline for Spring Semester newly admitted students to complete the online waiver process has been extended from January 31, 2012 to February 29, 2012. This extension applies only to Spring Semester newly admitted students. For all other groups, the deadline remains January 31, 2012.
If you have questions regarding the new health insurance requirements, please contact MSU Human Resources Benefits at 800-353-4434 or e-mail studentinsurance@hr.msu.edu.
Additional Resources:
Office of the Provost Communication
