Key Points about the BU Student Medical Insurance Plan
Massachusetts law requires all full-time and ¾-time (9 credit hours)
students to have health insurance. Boston University policy requires
the same of all international students.
BU offers one health insurance plan (through The Chickering Group) to
students.
If you choose another plan that meets the state requirements, you can
waive the BU Plan. To do so, you must complete a waiver form (available
at 881 Comm. Ave., 4th floor, or online at cmp.bu.edu/stuaccts/med1.html)
by the beginning of October. The form requires the name and policy
number of your qualifying plan.
Boston University Student Health Services (881 Comm. Ave., West)
provides only primary care for short-term conditions. Both long-term
conditions and those requiring a specialist are referred out to other
doctors.
If you receive a referral from Student Health Services, check the list
of Aetna Open Choice PPO providers (on the web at www.aetnaushc.com/docfind
or in the directory at Student Health Services) to be sure that you are
sent to an in-network provider. Also, you can confirm coverage with
the referral specialist at Student Health Services. Referrals must
be renewed each year.
The BU Plan is a sickness and injury plan, so it does not cover
"preventative medicine." Student Health Services does provide
preventative care for students in the form of free flu shots and yearly
pap smears for women.
You may see several versions of a bill for medical services you have
received. Make sure you receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from
Chickering, which explains what amounts they've paid and what amounts
you must pay. When you are sure a bill reflects what you actually owe,
then you should pay your bill. Contact Chickering at 1-800-966-7772 if
you have any questions.
The BU Plan imposes monetary limits on certain kinds of services. Those
students with chronic or catastrophic illness may easily reach those
limits.
Supplemental coverage is available for purchase from Chickering. This
coverage increases the maximum paid for an illness or injury, but not
the dollar limits on different kinds of services. Supplemental coverage
is not automatically renewed each year.
The BU Plan does not cover routine dental care, but a separate dental
plan (run by the BU Dental School) is purchasable. Pamphlets and
enrollment forms are available at Student Health Services.
The BU Plan includes the Vision One Program, which can provide vision
services and supplies for discount rates at participating providers.
To contact the Graduate Student Organization on healthcare issues, send
mail to healthcare@gso.bu.edu.