Home > Duluth Campus AHC Students > Student Health Benefit Plan

Eligibility

All admitted Academic Health Center students registered for one or more credits in an Academic Health Center program are automatically enrolled in the University-sponsored AHC Student Health Benefit Plan. All eligible Academic Health Center students will be enrolled in the University-sponsored AHC Student Health Benefit Plan prior to the start of each new term unless they are eligible for, and submit a waiver request.

Enrollment

All eligible students who wish to take advantage of the 2011-2012 AHC SHBP must complete the enrollment process prior to the start of each new term.

Step 1. Online Enrollment
When registering for classes online, every student will see a screen that instructs them to enter health plan information. Students who wish to enroll in the AHC SHBP should select the option "I wish to enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan". If eligible, the student will be enrolled in the plan and a charge will be added to their University account. All eligible Academic Health Center students will automatically be enrolled in the University-sponsored AHC Student Health Benefit Plan for each term in which they are registered unless they are eligible for, submit a Waiver Request Form and provide verifiable proof of other eligible health plan coverage by the first University billing due date. AHC Student Health Benefit Plan enrollment deadlines coincide with the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities class registration deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar. Students may update their health plan information up until the class registration deadline.

Note: As an Academic Health Center Student, providing health plan information at the time of registration alone will not waive the coverage or fees for the AHC Student Health Benefit Plan. In order to be waived from the plan a completed waiver request must be received in the Office of Student Health Benefits by the due date.

Step 2. Update One Stop
Make sure your U.S. mailing address is up-to-date. This is the address to which the health plan card and information will be mailed. Go to Current Students >Technology > Update Personal Information.

Step 3. Enrolling Dependents
To enroll dependents on the plan, the primary member must submit an Enrollment Add/Change Form before the fall semester enrollment deadline or within 31 days of when the student initially becomes eligible for the Plan. Eligible dependents include a spouse or same sex domestic partner and a child or children. Dependent enrollment is contingent upon the Office of Student Health Benefits verification of primary member enrollment. In order to enroll a same sex domestic partner, the primary member must also submit a Declaration of Domestic Partnership Form.

Plan Details

2011-2012 AHC SHBP Enrollment Brochure with Quick Reference Chart (PDF)
2011-2012 Full Benefits Summary (PDF)

Health plan network and claims administration services for the AHCStudent Health Benefit Plan are provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN, giving access to thousands of providers and hospitals in their worldwide network.

The cost of the AHC Student Health Benefit Plan for the 2011-2012 academic year averages $224.00 per month. Plan members will see a charge of $1,340.00 on their University bill once at the beginning of fall semester and once at the beginning of spring semester. The coverage period for fall semester is August 25, 2011 to January 16, 2012, and the coverage period for spring semester is January 17 to August 23, 2012.

Students should familiarize themselves with the Full Benefits Summary before using the AHC Student Health Benefit Plan coverage.

Health Plan Card

Member ID cards will be sent to the plan member by U.S. mail approximately three weeks after enrollment. Cards are sent to the current U.S. mailing address on record with the University. Students should verify their address is up-to-date by visiting OneStop >Technology > Update Personal Information.

If students have recently updated their address with the University and think the card may have been sent to an old address, they should email their name, student ID number, and "I have updated my U.S. mailing address in One Stop and would like a new card sent to me." to umshbo@umn.edu. The Office of Student Health Benefits must receive confirmation that the U.S. mailing address is correct in One Stop before a new card can be issued. Before using the AHC Student Health Benefit Plan coverage, students should familiarize themselves with the information found under Plan Details.

Waiving the Plan

Students may not waive Guardian Long Term Disability Insurance.

You can request to have the University-sponsored AHC Student Health Benefit Plan waived for two years if you are enrolled in one of the following group:

- a United States-based employer-sponsored group health plan;
- the University-sponsored Graduate Assistant Health Plan; or
- Minnesota Care

To request a two year waiver, submit the following documentation by fax, mail, or in person to the Office of Student Health Benefits:

1. Waiver Request Form
   
   
2. Certificate of credible coverage, also called a letter of active coverage, from your insurance company. You must prove you have other coverage by producing a certificate of credible coverage obtained from your managed care organization, insurance company, or a letter to verify your enrollment from your current insurance company.

The Office of Student Health Benefits will contact students with the decision on their waiver request within two weeks of receiving all required documents. The deadline to request a waiver from the plan coincides with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus first billing statement due date each term. The spring 2012 deadline to request a waiver from the plan is February 15, 2012.

Should students lose coverage during the period for which they have been waived, they must enroll in the AHC SHBP within 60 days of losing coverage by providing proof of involuntary loss of coverage from their insurance company.

Note: Academic Health Center students are not able to update health plan information to waive the plan through the University's web registration system.

Summer Coverage

Students enrolled in the University-sponsored AHC Student Health Benefit Plan during spring semester will automatically be covered on the Plan through the summer semester at no additional charge (even if they are graduating at the end of spring semester). These students should choose "I wish to enroll…" when registering for summer classes (because they were enrolled in the AHC-SHBP Spring semester, no charge will be placed on their account). If they need to update their choice to "I wish to enroll…", they can do it here > Financial Information > Student Health Insurance.

Dental Coverage

Lake Superior Dental Associates provides dental care for Duluth Campus students on the AHC Student Health Benefit Plan. Please identify yourself as a Academic Health Center student and have your student ID number ready when making appointments for yourself or your dependents to assure that you receive appropriate discounts on services.

As a Duluth Campus student on the AHC Student Health Benefit Plan, you will receive the following preventive services at Lake Superior Dental Associates at no out-of-pocket cost:
- One dental exam at six and twelve month intervals
- One routine adult teeth cleaning at six and twelve month intervals
- Four bitewing radiographs one additional radiograph per year
- One panorex once every five years if needed, only at the time of the dental exam

Dependents covered by the AHC SHBP will receive preventive and other covered restorative dental services at a discount of 20-30 percent below the regular fee schedule. The discount does not apply to patients who already have other dental insurance coverage.

If you choose to have preventative dental work performed outside of Lake Superior Dental Associates, a one-time credit (per academic year) of up to $150 will be refunded to you by check. To request for this reimbursement, fill out the Dental Reimbursement Request Form and follow the instructions on the form on how to submit. You must provide, within 45 days of the appointment, a copy of your bill, clearly indicating your name and the treatment received from the provider. Example: You have your teeth cleaned at Dr. Smith’s office, you receive and pay a bill for $150 for your hygiene appointment (restorative procedures do not receive credit). When you provide us with a copy of your bill, we will refund you with a check for $150. Electing this reimbursement option means that you may not receive free preventive treatment at Lake Superior Dental Associates during the plan year.

Restorative and preventive services for your dependents will be charged at the completion of treatment. Payment is expected at the time of service. If payment is not made at the time of service, your student account will be debited the appropriate amounts.

Health Plan Coverage After Graduation:
University of Minnesota Continuation Options

Many parent plans drop dependent coverage for students after graduation. The University of Minnesota has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield to offer a guaranteed coverage option for an unlimited time period between graduation and the time students become eligible for an employer-sponsored health plan. It's called the University of Minnesota Continuation Options.

Continuation Options is not the same as the Student Health Benefit Plan. Students have the choice of three Blue Cross and Blue Shield individual plan options for guaranteed coverage without having to prove insurability. Costs are based on the deductible and network chosen.

To be eligible for Continuation Options after graduation, students must be enrolled in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) for the previous 6 months. Students currently covered by a different health insurance plan should consider switching to the SHBP prior to their last semester. This can only be done at the beginning of fall semester during open enrollment, or within 60 days of an involuntary loss of coverage. Students who remain on a parent's plan or other insurance plan will not be able to take advantage of Continuation Options after graduation.

Continuation Options enrollment will open near the end of SHBP coverage. The Office of Student Health Benefits will send a reminder e-mail to all eligible students each spring. Students must enroll within 60 days of termination of SHBP coverage. Continuation Options coverage will be effective retroactive to the last day of SHBP coverage. A student may stay on their chosen Continuation Options plan indefinitely and can cancel any month.

Students Terminating SHBP Coverage August 24, 2012: To enroll in the University of Minnesota Continuation Options, enrollment forms must be received by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota on or before October 22, 2012. Coverage will be effective retroactive to August 24, 2012.

University of Minnesota Continuation Options Details (PDF)
University of Minnesota Continuation Options Enrollment/Change Form (PDF)
Automatic Payment Authorization Form (PDF)
Network Provider Directory From the Blue Cross Blue Shield page click on Find a Doctor, Blue Cross Accord Network. Note: Members living outside of Minnesota have access to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield traditional (participating) provider network.

For more information about Continuation Options, please contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield customer service at (651) 662-5030 or toll free at 1-800-531-6685 and identify yourself as a University of Minnesota student. If after speaking with Blue Cross and Blue Shield you have specific Continuation Options enrollment questions, please contact Tom Seifert at (612) 373-9878.

Emergency Travel Assistance Program

Plan members and their dependents traveling 100 or more miles away from home and outside of their home country, have emergency medical, travel, and personal security assistance 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world, through FrontierMEDEX, a leading provider of international travel assistance services. From finding an English-speaking doctor to replacing a prescription, FrontierMEDEX has the resources and experience to offer rapid coordination and monitoring of medical care while students are abroad.

Medical Services Available
- 24-hour worldwide medical referrals
- Medical evacuations and repatriation of mortal remains
- Verification of insurance coverage to facilitate hospital admission

Personal and Travel Services Available
- Assistance with lost or stolen travel documents (i.e. passport)
- Emergency language interpretation services
- Emergency cash advance

FrontierMEDEX Information Sheet (PDF)
FrontierMEDEX Member Website
FrontierMEDEX ID Card (267K, PDF)
FrontierMEDEX Assistance 1-800-527-0218