We anticipate another great year at Gallaudet University, and we are pleased that you will be joining us. As you prepare for school, please do not forget health insurance. By law, international students must show proof of health insurance at registration, and comprehensive coverage is mandated for all full-time undergraduate and full-time graduate students. Private insurance allows you to waive purchase of the University's health insurance plan, if it meets the requirements outlined in this letter. If you lack coverage, or if your policy does not meet our requirements, you must purchase the University's health insurance plan. You can find a Summary of Benefits at www.universityhealthplans.com.
You are advised to provide waiver information at least one month before the start of classes. Waiver of Gallaudet University's health insurance for Fall 2009 must be completed by the first day of classes, August 31, 2009 to avoid a $100.00 processing fee. It is required that you waive the health insurance every year even though your health insurance company has not changed. If you have not waived your insurance by the first day of classes, August 31, 2009, your student account will be automatically billed for Gallaudet University's health insurance plan. Any waiver of purchase after this date, thus reversing the health insurance charge on your student account, will involve a processing fee in the amount of $100.00 to be charged to your student account. Students are unable to waive, for any reason, the automatic billing of the campus health insurance plan after September 14, 2009. This is a non-negotiable deadline. If students have not waived the insurance by September 14, 2009 the health insurance charge for that year will remain on their student account and duplicate insurance coverage may exist.
Waiver requires you to submit proof of your insurance, and it is your responsibility to ensure that Student Health Services (SHS) receives it. Failure to provide this information by the deadline will result in an automatic charge to your student account for the health premium due under the University's insurance plan.
The deadline to complete the waiver for Spring 2010 is the first day of class, January 19, 2010 to avoid the $100.00 processing fee. Students are unable to waive, for any reason, the automatic billing of the campus health insurance plan after February 2, 2010. This is a non-negotiable deadline. If students have not waived the insurance by February 2, 2010, the health insurance charge for that year will remain on their student account and duplicate insurance coverage may exist.
Comprehensive coverage that permits waiver of the University's health insurance must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Remains in effect throughout the academic year.
- Applies to the Metropolitan DC area - it is either:
- Private health insurance that provides coverage beyond your home state and medical provider options in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. If your private insurance is an HMO or Preferred Provider Plan, it is necessary to identify a point of service where you can obtain healthcare services in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. OR
- A local government program. Medicaid in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. provides comprehensive coverage for waiver purposes. If you have Medicaid from any other state or jurisdiction, it will not be accepted. Medicare is accepted, but only if it is the primary insurance.
- Provides at least a minimum of $25,000 in coverage per illness or injury for domestic students, international students are required by law to have at least a minimum of $50,000. (Gallaudet's plan provides $50,000).
- Covers routine care, emergency care, follow-up care and in-patient psychiatric care.
Once again, if you do not demonstrate to SHS that you have purchased comprehensive coverage, you will be automatically enrolled in the campus health plan and billed for the premium amount due.
Enrollment of Family Members
To enroll family members please contact University Health Plans directly by calling 1-800-437-6448. Additional information concerning the health insurance plan is available at the following website: www.universityhealthplans.com.
Waive or Purchase Gallaudet's Health Insurance
You must either waive the purchase of, or purchase, Gallaudet's health insurance plan no later than August 31, 2009 for fall semester and no later than January 19, 2010 for spring semester. If SHS does not receive all your health insurance information by the deadline, or if you failed to purchase comprehensive coverage, your student account will be automatically billed for the premium due. However, to make sure that your insurance information has been received and approved please review your Bison account. If you have additional questions or concerns about your insurance, please feel free to contact us directly at (202) 651-5090 (TTY/Voice) or email us at shs@gallaudet.edu.
To submit your insurance information you will need to access your Bison account. Bison Self Service is an on-line Service to let you know what you need to do to comply with the various departments within Gallaudet University. The website to access Bison Self Service is bison.gallaudet.edu. Listed below are instructions on how to gain access to your Bison account:
How to waive the health insurance
Waiving the health insurance is a 2 step process. You must complete both steps before your insurance is waived. First, you must waive the health insurance online through your Bison account and second, you must submit a copy of your health insurance card, front and back to Student Health Service. Your health insurance has not been waived unless you complete both steps of the insurance waiver process. The health insurance card can be faxed to 202-651-5743 or a copy of the health insurance card can attached to an email and sent to shs@gallaudet.edu.
The following links will provide more information concerning your Bison account:
- Introduction to Bison (video)
- How to submit your insurance plans(video)
Health Insurance Information
| Health Insurance | United Healthcare Insurance for 2009-2010 The benefits will remain the same as the previous year. | United Healthcare Health Insurance for 2008-2009 |
| Annual Cost of Insurance for Fall Semester | 1725.00 | 1698.00 |
| Coverage Period for Fall Semester | 07/15/2009 through 07/14/2010 at 11:59pm | 12/15/2008 through 07/14/2009 at 11:59pm |
| Spring semester cost and coverage period | 1025.00 from 12/15/2009 through 07/14/2010 at 11:59pm | 993.00 from 12/15/2008 through 07/14/2009 at 11:59pm |
| Annual Maximum Benefit | 50,000.00 | 50,000.00 |
| Network | Choice Plus | Choice Plus |
| Co-payment | None | None |
| Deductible | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| Emergency Room | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| Urgent Care | 50.00 | 50.00 |
| Pharmacy Benefit | 1600.00 (Coverage for Oral Contraceptives included) Generic- 10.00 / Brand 30.00 / Non-Formulary 50.00 | 1600.00 (Coverage for Oral Contraceptives included) Generic - 10.00 / Brand 30.00 / Non-Formulary 50.00 |
Costs Not Covered By Insurance
Every registered full-time student is eligible to use Student Health Services. Students are charged a $50 health fee per semester with tuition. The $50.00 health fee is not to be confused with health insurance. Certain charges are not included in the $50 health fee, i.e. medication, vaccinations, and laboratory tests. For a complete list of charges not included in the SHS student health fee, please contact SHS directly. A fee is charged to anyone who is not a registered student. Fees for services at SHS are billed directly to the student's account in the Student Accounts office.
