Frequently Asked Questions
Selecting or Waiving Student Health Plans
Q: How do I select or waive the student health insurance and what is the deadline?
A: There are two ways to make your selection:
- Go to CUConnect.colorado.edu, click on the financial tab, then the Select or Waive Health Plans button
- Complete a Selection/Waiver form to be submitted to the Student Health Plans office by mail or in person.
The deadline to select or waive insurance for the spring semester is January 20, 2010.
Q: What are the university requirements to waive the student insurance?
A: The only requirement is that students have an active health insurance plan during the time they are students at CU-Boulder.
Q: How often does the insurance need to be selected or waived?
A: The system resets each fall, so insurance selections are effective for one year. The selection made for the fall semester automatically carries over to the spring semester unless actively changed. New or returning students in the spring semester must make a selection for the spring semester and then again starting in the fall.
Q: If I don't have my insurance card, how is the insurance waived?
A: If you do not have your insurance information yet because you have recently switched carriers, a letter from the insurance company is acceptable; it should state that the student is covered, an enrollee identification number, a phone number to call for eligibility confirmation, and the effective dates of coverage. If you have recently started a new job, a letter with this information from the human resources department can substitute for the insurance company letter. Applications are not accepted as proof of insurance. Please note that the insurance has to be effective before the waiver deadline or the student health insurance will not be waived.
Q: Does the Wardenburg Campus Care Plan fulfill the university insurance requirement?
A: No - because the Wardenburg Campus Care Plan is not an insurance plan, it does not fulfill the university's mandatory insurance requirement. It is an in-house, pre-paid plan for primary care at Wardenburg only.
Q: My student is an intercollegiate athlete. Are the forms I sent to the athletic department the same as the selection/waiver for the insurance?
A: No - the CU athletic department forms are different. You must still select or waive the student health plans.
Q: Can students sign up for a plan at any time?
A: No - students can only sign up during the enrollment period at the beginning of each semester. For enrollment deadlines click here.
Q: What if my student loses their third-party insurance coverage during the semester?
A: Students may enroll in the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan mid-semester if they provide proof that they were unwillingly dropped from their insurance (ex: due to job loss). Premiums are not pro-rated and coverage begins on the day they enroll in the plan.
Student Health Plans
Q: How does the university determine what is covered under the Student Gold Plan and how much it costs?
A: Coverage and cost are always at the forefront of our minds when it comes to the Student Gold Plan. While the plan will never perfectly meet the needs of every student, we try to build the plan each year so that it can provide needed coverage for a majority of students. The cost of the plan is determined by (1) the underwriter and (2) the coverage.
(1) Every few years the university goes out to bid with health insurance companies and selects a reputable company that will be able to cover student needs at a reasonable price. Each year, the underwriter comes back and says that based on enrollment and utilization last year, the cost of the plan for this next year will increase by X% (up to a certain percentage permitted in the contract). Until the university's contract is up with that insurer, we have no choice but to accept the price increase.
(2) Additionally, each year, the UCSU Student Health Board determines changes to plan coverage based on feedback from CU students and data on plan usage. Coverage changes frequently come with a price tag. The board works carefully to balance coverage and needs while keeping the premium at a reasonable cost. The board makes the final decisions on coverage for the Student Gold Plan.
Q: Do the university plans provide year-round coverage?
A: Yes - buying two semesters of coverage covers a full 12 months, including summer and breaks. For coverage dates click here.
Q: Do either of the plans provide dental coverage?
A: No - neither the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan nor the Campus Care Plan provide dental coverage. For information about the dental discount program and/or dental plans available through Aetna Student Health click here.
Student Gold Health Insurance Plan
Q: Why would I select the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan if I have other insurance?
A: If you have other insurance then you meet the university's requirement for insurance coverage and therefore don't need the Gold Plan. However, if a student plans to use the mental health or physical therapy services at Wardenburg frequently, it may be more cost effective to purchase the Gold Plan. Check to see what your benefits are and if there are any providers in the area taking new patients. When a student is enrolled in the Gold Plan as well as third-party insurance, the Gold Plan is the primary insurance.
Q: Is there coverage outside of Colorado?
A: Yes - the plan is a national and international plan. For further details please see our brochure (beginning on page 5).
Q: Will Student Gold Plan members receive an insurance card?
A: Yes - students who select the Student Gold Plan will receive an insurance card. It is mailed out after the enrollment deadline to their mailing address. If care outside of Wardenburg is needed before the insurance card is received, we can provide a temporary insurance card. Students coming to Wardenburg for care only need to bring their Buff OneCard.
Wardenburg Campus Care Plan
Q: Why would I get the Wardenburg Campus Care Plan if my student is covered under my insurance plan?
A: Because Wardenburg does not bill third-party insurance, we wanted to make it easy and cost-effective for students with outside insurance to receive care. The Wardenburg Campus Care Plan covers primary care, lab, and x-ray with no cost to the student at the time of their visit.
Q: Does the Wardenburg Campus Care Plan cover immunizations?
A: No - the plan only covers medically necessary immunizations (e.g., a student is treated for an animal bite and needs a rabies vaccination, or a student is treated for a puncture wound and needs a tetanus shot).
Q: Will Campus Care Plan members receive an insurance card?
A: No - because the plan only covers services at Wardenburg and is not an insurance plan, students only need their Buff OneCard when they come to Wardenburg for care. Our computer system knows the student has the Campus Care Plan.
