Changes between Version 12 and Version 13 of Wisdom/University/Insurance


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Timestamp:
04/25/12 11:23:43 (14 years ago)
Author:
lia@…
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  • Wisdom/University/Insurance

    v12 v13  
    1212Added by [mailto:jps@astro.columbia.edu Josh]
    1313
     14
     15The university health insurance actually ends August 31st, and you are technically not insured until you opt in to one of the coverage plans or the end of September when you are automatically enrolled in the basic coverage.  At that point they do back-date your coverage, however for the month of September you may have to cover expenses yourself (i.e. for prescriptions) and then submit receipts to get reimbursed (http://health.columbia.edu/insurance/aboutplan/planids).
     16
     17Added by Kathryn
     18
     19Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth is covered by the Columbia medical insurance (with a limit for the basic one), but not by the optional Aetna dental plan. Make sure that you get a referral from your doctor at Columbia health service. Also note that Aetna may promise to cover 100% of everything when you call them before the surgery and then refuse to cover 100% of the sedation of the surgery after they receive the bill. I do not have a solution to this. Maybe you can try to ask the dentist to send one bill instead of two separate bills for the extraction and the sedation.
     20
     21Added by [mailto:yuan@astro.columbia.edu Yuan]
     22
     23You can get 40% discount for purchasing eyeglass frames or sunglasses with your *MEDICAL* plan. Discounts are also available for eyeglass lenses. Don't need a vision plan.
     24
     25Added by [mailto:jhyoon@astro.columbia.edu Joo]
     26
     27=== Family / Spouse / Baby stuff ===
     28
    1429If you are ensuring a dependent through the University, be savvy.  Often, the New York state coverage (child health plus) is cheaper, and our thrilling salaries as graduate students make the monthly payments reasonable.  The department does share the premiums of a dependent, but it (in the past) has been more expensive out of pocket (and frankly, not great).  If you do go on the University insurance with a dependent, be warned.  The renewal is NOT on the calendar year, but twice (once in Sept, and once in January).  And, as of last disaster, they did not send any sort of reminder or renewal notice.  NOTE: This is extra confusing because this split enrollment DOES NOT occur the first year (which starts whenever the baby is born until the following September). So you won't see it coming. Which makes it extra awesome.
    1530
     
    2237Added by [mailto:andreas@astro.columbia.edu Andreas].
    2338
    24 The university health insurance actually ends August 31st, and you are technically not insured until you opt in to one of the coverage plans or the end of September when you are automatically enrolled in the basic coverage.  At that point they do back-date your coverage, however for the month of September you may have to cover expenses yourself (i.e. for prescriptions) and then submit receipts to get reimbursed (http://health.columbia.edu/insurance/aboutplan/planids).
    25 
    26 Added by Kathryn
    27 
    2839If you are enrolling your baby (perhaps wife as well..) to the dependent plan, what you need is "Graduate Subsidy Dependent Enrollment Application". When I called Aetna, they sent me "Dependent Enrollment Application", which is USELESS for you, at the beginning and I got rejection of the application. I have talked to Millie, the Associate Dean, and the supervisor of Aetna customer service and it took 3 weeks to find out what was wrong. So irritating... Make sure you have the right form.
    2940
    3041Added by [mailto:jhyoon@astro.columbia.edu Joo]
    3142
     43Parents who are fully funded Ph.D. or D.M.A. candidates in a program in the Arts and Sciences are eligible to receive a $1,000 subsidy for each child who qualifies by being under the age of five (5) and not yet attending Kindergarten.  Interested students should apply using the form that may be found here
     44[http://gsas.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/child_care_subsidy.pdf].
    3245
    33 Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth is covered by the Columbia medical insurance (with a limit for the basic one), but not by the optional Aetna dental plan. Make sure that you get a referral from your doctor at Columbia health service. Also note that Aetna may promise to cover 100% of everything when you call them before the surgery and then refuse to cover 100% of the sedation of the surgery after they receive the bill. I do not have a solution to this. Maybe you can try to ask the dentist to send one bill instead of two separate bills for the extraction and the sedation.
    34 
    35 Added by [mailto:yuan@astro.columbia.edu Yuan]
    36 
    37 
    38 You can get 40% discount for purchasing eyeglass frames or sunglasses with your *MEDICAL* plan. Discounts are also available for eyeglass lenses. Don't need a vision plan.
    39 
    40 Added by [mailto:jhyoon@astro.columbia.edu Joo]
     46Added by [mailto:lia@astro.columbia.edu Lia]