insurance

Are immunizations paid for at the Student Health Center?

by

Get your vaccination

Q: Are immunizations covered at the Student Health Center?

A: If you have the Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan, many immunizations are covered with no cost sharing under the Preventive Services benefit.  That means you have no out of pocket expense for these immunizations.  The following immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are covered at 100% under the Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis A&B
  • Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) for students under 27 years of age only
  • Influenza
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
  • Meningococcal
  • Tetanus-Diphtheria toxoids (Td)
  • Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis (TdaP)
  • Varicella (Chickenpox)

The following immunizations are covered at 50% under the Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan.  You will be responsible for half of the cost of the immunization and administration fee:

  • Polio
  • Typhoid
  • Japanese Encephalitis
  • Rabies
  • Yellow Fever

The price for all immunizations can be found on the SHS website.

Preventive Medicine services including immunizations are specifically excluded under the WilceCare Supplement.  For more details on the WilceCare Supplement or the Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan, see the Student Health Insurance website.

Immunizations are considered preventive medicine services by most insurance plans.  Due to recent changes in health care laws, these services may be covered when given at the Wilce Student Health Center.  To find out how or if your plan will cover immunizations at Wilce (or any other facility) you will need to contact your insurance company.

Michael Bower, CPC-A
Student Health Services
The Ohio State University

Welcome to campus, New Buckeyes Part I

by

wikimedia commons

Don't get lost in the crowd!

The Student Health Center

We know you’re bombarded with a lot of information in a small amount of time during orientation and Welcome Week and it’s hard to retain it all.  So we thought we’d put the highlights here on the blog so that you can refer to them when you’re not so swamped. 

Health Care Services

Ok, you have made it to our web site.  Our most popular features:

  • Our BuckMD blog offers a wide range of advice on many topics.  You can like us on Facebook and see the latest updates, or follow us in Twitter. 
  • Our Events Calendar shows special programs for students and schedule variations including our Saturday Clinic dates.
  • Our Services link takes you to pages for each of our service area, and detailed information on what we offer, our location and contact information
  • Our Forms page links you to a variety of documents, including fill-in downloadable forms that you can complete prior to your visit.

My BuckMD

My BuckMD is our secured portal giving you access to:

  • encrypted messaging
  • printable immunization and medication history
  • online appointment scheduling
  • access to forms that you can submit online in advance.

To sign up, you need to come in to the Health Center with a photo ID.

Pharmacy

We offer a full-service pharmacy here at the Student Health Center.

  • Prescription medicines
  • Over-the-counter medicines
  • Walk-in vaccine services
  • Pharmacist counseling
  • Prescription transfers from your home to our pharmacy. (All you need is the prescription number and the name/phone number of the original pharmacy – all of which are on the package label.)  

Our pharmacy is contracted with many insurance companies but not all.  You can stop by or call 614-292-0125 to find out if we can bill your specific insurance.

Insurance  

We understand that you may just be learning how to use health insurance, whether it is your student insurance, or other coverage you carry. 

  • We are the primary provider for the OSU Student Health Insurance Plans
  • We are also in-network with most Medical Mutual and Anthem/BlueCrossBlueShield health insurance plans and a few others.  Contact Patient Accounts or Patient Registration if you have a question about this. 
  • You should learn the basics of your coverage – in-network vs. out-of-network, how co-pays work, etc.
  • If you are on non-OSU insurance, be sure to bring your insurance ID card with you to school

If you are not on the Student Health Insurance Plan or with an in-network plan, you should definitely consider purchasing the WilceCare Supplement. 

  • Routine x-rays, laboratory tests, physical therapy, minor office procedures, prescribed medical supplies, office visits for illness and injury and prescriptions are all covered.

GO BUCKS!!!

Roger Miller, MD (OSU Student Health Services

 

 

What do I do for health insurance now that I’ve graduated!?

by

Don't get lost in the crowd!

womenshealthmag.com

Q: I’m graduating but don’t have a job yet.  What do I do for health insurance?

A: Graduating from THE Ohio State University is a major accomplishment.  It’s a time for excitement and celebration – you earned it. 

But once the speeches end and you take off the cap and gown, you’ve got to face the “real world” and that can be kind of a scary place, especially if you don’t have a job.  Perhaps the job you do have doesn’t provide you with health insurance.

So as a graduation present to all of our newly minted Buckeye alums, we’ve compiled a list of resources that can help you find affordable (relatively speaking) health coverage.  We know it ain’t a new car or a Rolex (talk to your parents about that),  but it may be even more valuable to you – one illness or accident without insurance can cost you big bucks in a hurry. 

Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished.   Now go out there, work hard, stay healthy and take the world by storm!

Go Bucks!

John Vaughn, MD, Roger Miller, MD, Thomas Curran, Patient Accounts Manager  (OSU Student Health Services)

OSU Student Health Insurance Program – Guide for graduating students

OTHER RESOURCES

COBRA insurance.com – an alternative plan that can provide temporary health insurance for 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. The length of coverage might be able to be adjusted to meet the consumer’s needs.

Consumer Benefits.net – Compare 6 plans and receive a free prescription plan. This is an alternative to COBRA insurance. You can compare all 6 plans on their website and receive a free prescription plan when applying through this site.

GradMed.com – This is an official program of the Ohio State University Alumni Association. It is recognized by almost 200 colleges/alumni associations. Comprehensive coverage for alumni and family members under age 65 is available. Great for new grads and other alumni between jobs. The graduate would have a deductible between $500 and $2500. After deductible is met, GradMed will pay 100% of the usual and customary medical expenses up to $1 million. 

The best perk with this option is that there is no co-pay for office visits and no list or network of health care providers to select from. You can go to any licensed doctor or hospital of your choice.  Policy can go into effect the very next day.  Coverage period can range from 30 to 180 days, but you can request an extension of coverage.

Temporary Insurance Quotes.com – This website is similar to shopping for car insurance. You plug in the required information and health insurance companies will respond with quotes for temporary health insurance coverage.

Health Clinics – There might be a free or reduced cost health clinic where you are move. Often, monetary donations are accepted.  Some have income restrictions. Some only serve the local community residents, etc. You can visit http://www.freemedicalcamps.com to access a listing of various clinics. If this does not work; consider contacting the local county Health Department in your new location.

 

Student Health FAQs for New Students

by

Fall at the Shoe

Fall Colors

We know you’re bombarded with a lot of information in a small amount of time during orientation and it’s hard to retain it all.  So we thought we’d put the highlights here on the blog so that you can read them now that you are settled in.  Feel free to stop in or call if you have any questions.

Insurance  

Our web site gives information on how insurance works at the Student Health Center, but you should learn the basics – in-network vs. out-of-network, how co-pays work, etc. – and be sure to carry your insurance ID card with you at school. Checking out your insurance plan’s website, either for the Student Health Insurance Plan or your own plan is a great idea. too.

If you are not on the Student Health Insurance Plan, you should definitely consider purchasing the WilceCare Supplement.  For only $187 for the entire academic year, it supplements the health insurance that you already have by providing prepaid coverage for medical care delivered at the Student Health Center.  Routine x-rays, laboratory tests, physical therapy, minor office procedures, prescribed medical supplies, office visits for illness and injury and prescriptions are all covered.

Medical Records

We are under strict rules to keep all of your medical information confidential and we take those rules very seriously.  You’ll need to sign an authorization form for us to release your health information to anyone, including your parents.  An authorization form can only be completed for health services that have already been rendered which means that we can’t honor any requests like, “you can just let my Mom have access to my records for as long as I’m at Ohio State.”

Immunizations

There are no immunization requirements for most students entering Ohio State.  However, there are some program-specific requirements (for instance, health professional schools like medicine and nursing may require you to get certain immunizations) so be sure to check with your program coordinator. To learn more about the immunizations offered at Student Health Services, visit our Prevention/Immunizations page, and check out the other pages there and the attached documents.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following immunizations for all college students: Meningococcal Meningitis for students living in the dorm, Hepatitis B, HPV, MMR, Polio, Varicella (Chickenpox), Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough).  Hepatitis A, Influenza, and Pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for students with specific health risk factors.

All of these immunizations are available at the Student Health Center if you aren’t able to get them before you start school, or if you still need to complete a series.  If you can get a copy of your Immunization records, that would be really helpful and keep you from getting immunizations you don’t need.   

Allergy Injections

You can get your allergy shots at the Student Health Center while you’re here for school.  You need to submit the required paperwork prior to scheduling an appointment.  You can bring the allergen vials to the health center yourself or have them mailed to our facility.  We will store them for you and we can release them back to you as needed for injections during times away from the university.

Pharmacy

You can transfer a prescription from home to our pharmacy.  All you need is the prescription number and the name/phone number of the original pharmacy – all of which are on the package label.  Our pharmacy is contracted with many insurance companies but not all.  You can stop by or call 614-292-0125 to find out if we can bill your specific insurance.

Web Page

These are just some highlights.  Explore our web page and read some of our other BuckMD blog posts to learn about the huge variety of services offered by your Student Health Services, a division of the Office of Student Life.

Enjoy the beautiful fall colors on campus and welcome to Ohio State!

Student Health FAQs for New Students

by

The Wilce Student Health Center

We know you’re bombarded with a lot of information in a small amount of time during orientation and it’s hard to retain it all.  So we thought we’d put the highlights here on the blog so that you can refer to them when you’re not so swamped.  Feel free to stop in or call if you have any questions.

Insurance  

We reviewed how insurance works at the Student Health Center in a previous post but before arriving on campus you should learn the basics – in-network vs. out-of-network, how co-pays work, etc. – and be sure to bring your insurance ID card with you to school. 

If you are not on the Student Health Insurance Plan, you should definitely consider purchasing the WilceCare Supplement.  For only $187 for the entire academic year, it supplements the health insurance that you already have by providing prepaid coverage for medical care delivered at the Student Health Center.  Routine x-rays, laboratory tests, physical therapy, minor office procedures, prescribed medical supplies, office visits for illness and injury and prescriptions are all covered.

Medical Records

We are under strict rules to keep all of your medical information confidential and we take those rules very seriously.  You’ll need to sign an authorization form for us to release your health information to anyone, including your parents.  An authorization form can only be completed for health services that have already been rendered which means that we can’t honor any requests like, “you can just let my Mom have access to my records for as long as I’m at Ohio State.”

Immunizations

There are no immunization requirements for most students entering Ohio State.  However, there are some program-specific requirements (for instance, health professional schools like medicine and nursing may require you to get certain immunizations) so be sure to check with your program coordinator.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following immunizations for all college students: Meningococcal Meningitis for students living in the dorm, Hepatitis B, HPV, MMR, Polio, Varicella (Chickenpox), Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough).  Hepatitis A, Influenza, and Pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for students with specific health risk factors.

All of these immunizations are available at the Student Health Center if you aren’t able to get them before you start school.  If you can get a copy of your Immunization records, that would be really helpful and keep you from getting immunizations you don’t need.   

Allergy Injections

You can get your allergy shots at the Student Health Center while you’re here for school.  You need to submit the required paperwork prior to scheduling an appointment.  You can bring the allergen vials to the health center yourself or have them mailed to our facility.  We will store them for you and we can release them back to you as needed for injections during times away from the university.

Pharmacy

You can transfer a prescription from home to our pharmacy.  All you need is the prescription number and the name/phone number of the original pharmacy – all of which are on the package label.  Our pharmacy is contracted with many insurance companies but not all.  You can stop by or call 614-292-0125 to find out if we can bill your specific insurance.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and welcome to Ohio State!

Questions About Insurance and the Wilce Student Health Center

by

photo: whig.com

I don’t have the Ohio State Student Health Insurance.  Can I still be treated at the Wilce Student Health Center?

Yes, all enrolled students are eligible to use the Wilce Student Health Center.  

Will my insurance pay for my visit at the Student Health Center?

At this time, Student Health Services does not participate as a network provider with most commercial insurances so you should verify your insurance plan’s out-of-network coverage before seeking care at our facility.  When speaking with your insurance company, it is helpful to give them our tax ID number – 31-1657245 – so that they know you’re talking about the Student Health Center.  Even though we’re all “Ohio State,” in the eyes of insurance companies our practice is separate and distinct from other physician groups and medical facilities associated with the university. 

Can I use my Prescription Drug Card at the Wilce Student Health Center pharmacy?

The Wilce Student Health Center Pharmacy does participate with most prescription drug card programs. You can call our pharmacy at 614-292-0125 to verify that we participate with your prescription card program.

I gave you my health insurance information when I waived the Student Health Insurance Plan. Why do I need to give it to you again?

The health insurance information you provided the university when completing your insurance waiver is currently used for registration and enrollment purposes only. In order for Student Health Services to bill your medical insurance company directly, you will need to register your medical insurance with our office.

Kristen Kelly
Student Health Services
The Ohio State University

What do I do for health insurance now that I’ve graduated!?

by

aps.org

Don't get lost in the crowd!

womenshealthmag.com

Q: I’m graduating but don’t have a job yet.  What do I do for health insurance?

A: Graduating from THE Ohio State University is a major accomplishment.  It’s a time for excitement and celebration – you earned it. 

But once the speeches end and you turn the cap and gown back in to the bookstore, you’ve got to face the “real world” and that can be kind of a scary place.  Especially if you don’t have a job.  Or the job you do have doesn’t provide you with health insurance.

So as a graduation present to all of our newly minted Buckeye alums, we’ve compiled a list of resources that can help you find affordable (relatively speaking) health coverage.  We know it ain’t a new car or a Rolex (talk to your parents about that),  but it may be even more valuable to you – one illness or accident without insurance can cost you big bucks in a hurry. 

Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished.   Now go out there, work hard, stay healthy and take the world by storm!

Go Bucks!

COBRA insurance They have an alternative plan that can provide temporary health insurance for 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. The length of coverage might be able to be adjusted to meet the consumer’s needs. Visit http://cobrainsurance.com/ for details.

Compare 6 plans and receive a free prescription plan http://www.consumerbenefits.net/cobra-insurance.htm. This is an alternative to COBRA insurance. You can compare all 6 plans on their website and receive a free prescription plan when applying through this site.

GradMed http://www.gradmed.com. This is an official program of the Ohio State University Alumni Association. It is recognized by almost 200 colleges/alumni associations. Comprehensive coverage for alumni and family members under age 65 is available. Great for new grads and other alumni between jobs. The graduate would have a deductible between $500 and $2500. After deductible is met, GradMed will pay 100% of the usual and customary medical expenses up to $1 million. 

The best perk with this option is that there is no co-pay for office visits and no list or network of health care providers to select from. You can go to any licensed doctor or hospital of your choice.  Policy can go into effect the very next day.  Coverage period can range from 30 to 180 days, but you can request an extension of coverage.

Temporary Insurance Quotes http://www.temporaryinsurancequotes.com/ This website is similar to shopping for car insurance. You plug in the required information and health insurance companies will respond with quotes for temporary health insurance coverage.

Free Health Clinic There might be a free health clinic where you are move. Some places do charge a very little fee ($20) while some will ask for a small donation. Some are for low income people. Some only serve the local community residents, etc. You can visit http://www.freemedicalcamps.com to access the listing of free health clinics. If this does not work; consider contacting the local county Health Department.

Why do I have to pay to replace my birth control when I have insurance?

by

clubplanet.com

Q: I lost my birth control 2 weeks before the end of last quarter.  The Student Health pharmacy told me that I’d have to pay $60 for a replacement or else wait until the start of this quarter.  I can’t afford that – don’t you have a back-up policy for prescriptions, considering birth control is basic health care?

A: While I’m sorry this happened to you, I’m glad you asked this question – it will give us a chance to discuss some important stuff about the health care system.

Technically speaking, this is actually not a Student Health Services issue.  While we prescribe the medication, and our pharmacy dispenses the medication, it is actually the Student Health Insurance office that determines what you have to pay.  You should contact them if you have questions or concerns about your coverage.

But your situation touches on some really big questions that everybody in Washington has been arguing about for years.  Is basic health care a right?  What is “basic” health care?  Who should pay for it?  How much are we all personally responsible for the cost of maintaining our own health? 

If we assume that basic health care is a right, what specific benefits should be included?  In a health care system with finite financial resources, should certain birth control medications be covered when there are far less expensive options available?  Medicines are like any other consumer product; they cost money to produce and the organizations who produce them need to cover their costs and meet a budget – just like doctor’s offices, pharmacies, labs (and universities).  Some medicines are more expensive than others, and doctors and patients and insurance plans have to take that into account when choosing which ones to use.

I think a lot of your frustration comes from the fact that even though you pay for your insurance every quarter, you have no idea what you’re actually getting.  What does a doctor’s visit actually cost?  What does that medication actually cost?  Who knows!?  It depends!  Different insurance plans pay different amounts for the same service – and there are literally thousands of different plans – so even your health care provider doesn’t know what things cost.  

As part of your education here at THE Ohio State University, we want to teach you how to be a knowledgeable health care consumer and as you discovered, those lessons can be more confusing than a Math 151 lecture.  The bottom line is that we are all ultimately responsible for paying for our own health care.  So do your research and read the fine print – the answer will be in there somewhere, even if it’s not the one you’re looking for.   

John Vaughn, MD

Out of network, out of mind!

by

Q: If my health insurance plan considers the Student Health Center an “out of network” provider, is there some way that I can know how much my visits/tests/exams will be?

A: The cost of your visit depends on the complexity of your medical issue.  An initial visit can range in price from $40 to $195.  There are separate charges for any lab tests or other procedures that are performed.  We can provide you with general estimates for services that we provide, but the actual cost to you will vary depending on which insurance plan you have.  If you are covered by an insurance policy other than the Student Health Insurance plan there are a few steps you can take to get more specific information. 

  • Always carry a current insurance card or a copy of the front and back of a current card.
  • Call the customer service number on the back of the card, tell them you are an OSU student and ask if you have out-of-network benefits under your plan. 
  • Our Tax ID number is 311657245.  If you give them this number they will be able to give you an accurate quote of benefits.  If they tell you they will not cover your care here ask them where you can be seen in Columbus.  

If you decide to see us, you will want to register your insurance by bringing your insurance ID card to our Patient Relations Department on the 3rd floor of the Wilce Student Health Center (you don’t need an appointment).  We will make a copy and have you sign a medical information release.  You should do this once a year or if your insurance changes.   

If you don’t have any good choices for out-of-network healthcare, check out the WilceCare Supplement Plan.  It is only $187 for the entire academic year and provides you with coverage at the Student Health Center for office visits, lab tests, x-rays, physical therapy, and $500 in prescriptions.  Care provided outside of the Student Health Center (i.e. in an urgent care, emergency room, or a specialist’s office) would be covered by your other insurance plan.

If you have any questions or need help making your way through an insurance problem, our patient relations staff is here to help you.  You can stop in to see us on the 3rd floor of the Wilce Student Health Center or call us at (614) 292-0113.

Susan Henn

Manager, Patient Relations