Students, Enroll or Waive Health Insurance by 8/24

Published:
August 15, 2017

Grinnell College has changed its student health insurance carrier this year to United Health Care. UHC is the largest health insurance provider in the United States, and the plan uses its widest network of medical providers. ​

Students will be insured under the plan either because they elected coverage or they did not waive coverage by Aug. 24, the first day of classes. If they neither enrolled in the plan nor waived coverage by the deadline, they will be enrolled. To enroll or to waive coverage, visit the Gallagher website.

Insurance Card and App

Insured students will receive a printed insurance card in mid September. They can also access an app that will allow for this information to be stored on an electronic device and/or a card to be printed from the UHC or Gallagher websites.

Students who actively enrolled in the student health insurance plan through the Gallagher website should be able to access their card as of Aug. 14, the beginning of the plan year.

Copays and Deductibles 

The benefits of the student insurance policy should be the same as last year. The $10 office copay, $100 deductible, and the 90/10 coinsurance level are the same since the policy was brought in line with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Insured students who use a preferred provider doctor's office for a medical visit will normally pay the $10 copay.

However, if there are laboratory tests performed as part of a diagnosis of illness during an office visit, students may have to pay the $100 deductible and 90/10 coinsurance. This service could be covered under the outpatient laboratory tests at 90% after the $100 deductible. This isn't always the case because procedures coded as preventative care are covered at 100% in accordance with the ACA. There are other tests that can be completed in the doctor's office, such as a throat culture, that are part of the physician's visit.

The rule of thumb: if the test is sent away, it could be subject to deductible and coinsurance.

Finding Providers 

Insured students  can find a preferred provider for medical services by using the following websites:

If students have questions regarding the coverage of a medical claim, please contact Dustin Smith of Ramsey-Weeks Inc. at 641-236-3141.

Student Health and Counseling Services has more information on health insurance at Grinnell.

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