By Aaron McCullough
BYU requires all students to have health insurance.
Students must be enrolled in either the BYU Student Health Plan or a group medical plan provided by the student”s employer or a family member”s employer.
However, a comparison of coverage and costs among private heath insurance providers quickly revealed several benefits to choosing campus coverage.
BYU”s health plan offers many benefits to students that other insurance providers can”t match, said Diane Hunter, Business Office Supervisor at the BYU Health Center.
“The main benefit is that the Health Center is convenient,” Hunter said. “It”s our primary care facility, and it”s brand new.”
Another key benefit of BYU”s Student Health Plan is low costs, Hunter continued.
“It”s reasonable – for $10, they can come and see the doctor,” she said. “That includes all their labs, their X-rays, the office visit and medical supplies.”
You pay $10 with an appointment or $15 if you walk in to Urgent Care, Hunter said. Physicals are $25 including lab work and X-rays, she continued.
The Health Center Pharmacy sells prescriptions at wholesale cost, she said. “Our pharmacy has very good prices.”
Hunter explained that students often think doctors who work at BYU”s Health Center are learning when in fact they are certified specialists.
“All the doctors are board certified,” she said. “We have very good doctors.”
The Health Center also provides expert care from specialists who offer their services to students with specific needs, Hunter said.
“We have a lot of doctors who come here from the community – specialists in orthopedics, podiatry, etc.,” she said. “If you see them here and you”re on the health plan, you still pay only $10.”
The specialists offer their time and services to the Health Center as a courtesy. They”re not getting paid what they could be making in their facility.”
BYU Student Health Plan covers 80 percent of most medical costs up to $30,000, Hunter said.
Once students reach the $30,000, large claim coverage kicks in and that will pay up to $90,000 with 100 percent coverage, Hunter said.
“They”re not going to reach those kind of bills here at the Health Center,” Hunter said. “Those are from things like an accident, emergency surgery or premature baby.”
Hunter said BYU”s Health Plan is considerate of students with pre-existing conditions, whereas other insurance providers often do not cover such conditions for the first year.
“If you”re seen here at the Health Center, we do not count pre-existing conditions,” she said. If you”re a new student and you have diabetes, you can be seen here for that $10 or $15 co-pay.”
However, Hunter cautioned students against letting health insurance coverage lapse.
“It”s very important that students keep continual coverage,” she said. “If you have a break of more than 63 days, when you come back on the plan, everything is going to be pre-existing and it”s not going to be covered for a year.”
Additional discounts are available in conjunction with BYU health insurance.
As of September 2002, students on the BYU Student Health Plan can use a new program to save money on goods and services that are not covered by BYU insurance, according to the Student Health Plan Handbook.
“The program simply gives individuals covered by the BYU Student Health Plan the ability to purchase services directly from providers at wholesale prices on dental services, eyeglasses and contacts, LASIK vision surgery, health club memberships, massage therapy and nutritional supplements,” Hunter said.
BYU students who are taking at least 9 credit hours per semester must have medical insurance as long as they are enrolled, including during summers or other short-term breaks from classes, according to BYU requirements.
The BYU Health Plan Handbook states that any other medical insurance plan must provide at least 70 percent coverage for all major medical expenses, including physician, hospital, and ancillary services in order to meet minimum requirements.
Additionally, the coverage must have an individual annual deductible less than $500, and have an annual limit of no less than $25,000, the handbook states.
Students who are enrolled at least 3/4 time, including Salt Lake Center hours, must submit proof of other insurance to avoid being automatically enrolled in the BYU Student Health Plan and charged the appropriate premium, according to the handbook.
BYU requires students participating in internships, study abroad, or touring groups to submit proof of insurance to avoid being charged the appropriate premium for the Away-from-campus Plan, the handbook states.
* Physicals for $25 including lab work and X-rays.
* No discrimination against new students with pre-existing conditions.
* Wholesale prices on all prescriptions.
* Doctor visits for $10 including medical supplies, X-rays
* Up to 50 percent discounts at participating local dentists and optometrists.
