International Student Health Insurance
Dates of coverage: August 25, 2009 – August 24, 2010 with extended coverage beginning July 26, 2009 to cover you while you travel!
In an effort to provide quality health insurance at an affordable cost to Columbia College Chicago’s international students and scholars, the Office of International Student Affairs is pleased to announce that the college is offering an International Student Sickness and Accident Plan by the Lewer Agency. Lewer has been providing unique, innovative insurance products and services since 1956. Health care in the U.S. can be quite complicated and costly. A major accident or illness can create related expenses of $10,000 - $100,000 very quickly and very easily. If you do not have medical insurance to help cover some of the costs, you will be required to pay for these expenses. With this in mind, Columbia College Chicago implemented a mandatory health insurance coverage requirement in the Fall 2001 semester. All international students are automatically enrolled in the insurance plan. Insurance coverage for family members is available at an additional cost through enrollment at the Office of International Student Affairs. If you want to see if your health insurance from home will work, you can apply for a waiver. Submitting a waiver does not mean that it will be approved. You will be notified by email if your waiver has been approved or denied. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of International Student Affairs at your earliest convenience.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy semester!
Please click to download the Health Insurance Brochure!
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE
2009 - 2010 Academic Year
Being sick or injured away from home can be a stressful experience and more so if students don't understand their health care options. Health care in the United States is very different from what you may be used to back home. For one thing, costs related to health care are expensive. Illnesses and accidents are always unexpected. There are basically two options to cover health care costs for college students: the LewerMark Sickness and Accident Plan designed by Lewer Agency, Inc. for Columbia College Chicago's international students, or your family/personal health plan. The LewerMark Sickness and Accident Plan provides coverage from August 25, 2009 to August 24, 2010, with extended coverage beginning July 26, 2009! Lewer’s Extended Coverage policy automatically provides coverage up to 30 days in advance to newly enrolled students and 30 days following the completion of educational program or graduation, as long as the student remains in the United States.
The cost for the insurance for the year is $1236, which will be divided into two (2) payments: $618 payable during the fall 2009 semester and $618 payable during the spring 2010 semester. Please click here to access information about the International Student Health Insurance Health Plan for Academic Year 2009-20010 Highlights of the plan include:
Regardless of your insurance plan, we are here to help you understand and utilize your policy. Remember to carry your insurance identification card with you at all times. If you do not present a valid health insurance I.D. card at a doctor's office, you will be expected to pay in full, at the time of service. Your insurance I.D. card is just as important to you as your school I.D. card, or driver's license. Get into the habit of keeping it with you. Plan Costs and Dates Annual premium: $1236 with coverage dates from August 25, 2009 to August 24, 2010
When to Pay
How to Pay
There are two ways to make your insurance payment.
How to Petition for a Waiver
If you do not want to be enrolled in the health insurance plan, then you must petition for a waiver. You must apply for a “Waiver” for EVERY SEMESTER that you do not want to be enrolled in the health insurance plan.
Waivers must be approved to avoid being charged for the insurance.
Waiver deadlines:
Questions?
All questions regarding the International Student Insurance should be directed to the Office of International Student Affairs at (312) 369-7458, by fax: (312) 369-8465 or via email: gposejpal@colum.edu.
In an effort to provide quality health insurance at an affordable cost to Columbia College Chicago’s international students and scholars, the Office of International Student Affairs is pleased to announce that the college is offering an International Student Sickness and Accident Plan by the Lewer Agency. Lewer has been providing unique, innovative insurance products and services since 1956. Health care in the U.S. can be quite complicated and costly. A major accident or illness can create related expenses of $10,000 - $100,000 very quickly and very easily. If you do not have medical insurance to help cover some of the costs, you will be required to pay for these expenses. With this in mind, Columbia College Chicago implemented a mandatory health insurance coverage requirement in the Fall 2001 semester. All international students are automatically enrolled in the insurance plan. Insurance coverage for family members is available at an additional cost through enrollment at the Office of International Student Affairs. If you want to see if your health insurance from home will work, you can apply for a waiver. Submitting a waiver does not mean that it will be approved. You will be notified by email if your waiver has been approved or denied. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of International Student Affairs at your earliest convenience.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy semester!
Please click to download the Health Insurance Brochure!
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE
2009 - 2010 Academic Year
Being sick or injured away from home can be a stressful experience and more so if students don't understand their health care options. Health care in the United States is very different from what you may be used to back home. For one thing, costs related to health care are expensive. Illnesses and accidents are always unexpected. There are basically two options to cover health care costs for college students: the LewerMark Sickness and Accident Plan designed by Lewer Agency, Inc. for Columbia College Chicago's international students, or your family/personal health plan. The LewerMark Sickness and Accident Plan provides coverage from August 25, 2009 to August 24, 2010, with extended coverage beginning July 26, 2009! Lewer’s Extended Coverage policy automatically provides coverage up to 30 days in advance to newly enrolled students and 30 days following the completion of educational program or graduation, as long as the student remains in the United States.
The cost for the insurance for the year is $1236, which will be divided into two (2) payments: $618 payable during the fall 2009 semester and $618 payable during the spring 2010 semester. Please click here to access information about the International Student Health Insurance Health Plan for Academic Year 2009-20010 Highlights of the plan include:
- $100,000 Maximum Benefit per condition
- $0 Deductible per policy year
- Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company PPO Network - 100% In Network; 80% Out-of Network Co-Insurance
- Co-Payments- $15
- Physician, mental health; substance abuse, chiropractic; physical therapy; acupuncture; and occupational therapy visits
- Annual Out of Pocket Maximum - $2,000
- Physical Exam/Wellness Women’s Wellness exam – 100% after co-pay
- Prescription Drug Benefit through Express Scripts – reimbursed up to 50% - no annual limit per policy year
- Careington Dental and Vision Benefit – provides a discount network for dental and vision services.
Regardless of your insurance plan, we are here to help you understand and utilize your policy. Remember to carry your insurance identification card with you at all times. If you do not present a valid health insurance I.D. card at a doctor's office, you will be expected to pay in full, at the time of service. Your insurance I.D. card is just as important to you as your school I.D. card, or driver's license. Get into the habit of keeping it with you. Plan Costs and Dates Annual premium: $1236 with coverage dates from August 25, 2009 to August 24, 2010
- Students’ OASIS accounts will automatically be billed in two equal installments of $618.00 for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 academic terms. Students will be automatically enrolled in the insurance unless a waiver form has been turned into the Office of International Student Affairs before the waiver deadlines!
- New students starting Spring 2010, the premium is $721, with coverage dates January 12, 2010 to August 25, 2010
- New students for Summer 2010, the premium is $309 for coverage from May 26, 2010 through August 25, 2010
When to Pay
- Payment for the Fall 2009 semester is due by Friday, September 25, 2009
- Payment for the Spring 2010 semester is due by Friday, February 12, 2010
- Payment for the Summer 2010 semester is due by Friday June 11, 2010
How to Pay
There are two ways to make your insurance payment.
- In person: Bring a check or money order made payable to “Columbia College Chicago” to the Cashier’s Window located on the 3rd floor of the 600 S. Michigan Avenue building. Be sure to write your OASIS number on the check, and indicate that it is a payment for “International Student Health Insurance.” Keep the receipt for your records.
- Online: Visit the Student Financial Services http://www.colum.edu/Student_Financial_Services/index.php website for payment information. Note: Insurance payments made by credit card can only be paid through CCCPay. Credit card use on CCCPay is limited to MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
How to Petition for a Waiver
If you do not want to be enrolled in the health insurance plan, then you must petition for a waiver. You must apply for a “Waiver” for EVERY SEMESTER that you do not want to be enrolled in the health insurance plan.
- You must provide proof that your coverage is comparable to LewerMark’s plan, i.e. dates of coverage, benefits provided, etc.
- In order for us to consider your policy, it must be in English.
- The insurance company providing the coverage must have a US contact.
- The waiver petition and supporting information must be submitted to the Office of International Student Affairs no later than the deadlines indicated below!
Waivers must be approved to avoid being charged for the insurance.
Waiver deadlines:
- Fall 2009 semester: Friday, September 18, 2009
- Spring 2010 semester: Friday, February 5, 2010
- Summer 2010 semester: Friday, June 4, 2010
Questions?
All questions regarding the International Student Insurance should be directed to the Office of International Student Affairs at (312) 369-7458, by fax: (312) 369-8465 or via email: gposejpal@colum.edu.