2008 Woodie Awards
Chickering Group offers student health insurance at IUPUI
Sarah Collins
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: College News
Most health insurance companies terminate coverage of dependents at the age of 18 or 21, leaving college students to find their own form of health insurance or remain uninsured.
"It only takes one accident or catastrophic illness to put you in debt for a very long time," said IUPUI's Chickering on-site representative Sally Nicholson. "With the cost of medical care in the U.S, it's very expensive to get sick."
The Chickering Group is Indiana University's student health insurance provider.
"Most hospitals have to treat you whether you have insurance or not," said Nicholson. "If you do not pay, then eventually it will be turned over to a collection agency."
Hospital bills that aren't paid go to claims court and will go against the non-payer's credit.
IUPUI has mandatory and voluntary health insurance. Mandatory coverage plans are for international students and medical students. Voluntary plans are for all other enrolled students.
"Our voluntary plan is less than a $100 a month," Nicholson said. "What it offers is $7,500 coverage for each injury or illness. Each incidence that you may have will be covered up to $7,500. The plan has a $250 deductible, which is pretty good by the industry standard, and a 20 percent co-pay."
A big bonus to this plan is that whenever a student uses IUPUI Health Services the deductible will be waved. However, these services are offered in Coleman Hall, not at the IU Medical Center.
What the plan does not offer is ideal coverage for families and dependents. The plan also has a $200 limit per year for prescriptions, which is low compared to other plans.
Indiana University's student health insurance is heavily regulated and can only be signed up for at certain periods of the year with very few exceptions.
The easiest way to sign up for Indiana University's student health insurance is by going online to www.chickering.com.
"I used to be insured with my parents and then my stepdad got a new job," IUPUI student Sarah Stoehr said. "It was too expensive to keep me on their insurance. I went online and got a free quote. Anthem was the first to contact me.
"Anthem has a plan called the Economy plan, which is designed for people age 19 to 24 that aren't going to the doctors as much and not needing as many prescription drugs," she added. "This works well for me because I can go to see the doctor up to three times a year and it includes dental."
There are many independent health insurance plans that students can easily get enrolled in, though experts like Nicholson warn about the fine print in insurance contracts.
"Insurance is very different; you always want to read what it covers," said Nicholson. "You always need to know what it is you're buying and not to assumes that all insurances are alike."
"It only takes one accident or catastrophic illness to put you in debt for a very long time," said IUPUI's Chickering on-site representative Sally Nicholson. "With the cost of medical care in the U.S, it's very expensive to get sick."
The Chickering Group is Indiana University's student health insurance provider.
"Most hospitals have to treat you whether you have insurance or not," said Nicholson. "If you do not pay, then eventually it will be turned over to a collection agency."
Hospital bills that aren't paid go to claims court and will go against the non-payer's credit.
IUPUI has mandatory and voluntary health insurance. Mandatory coverage plans are for international students and medical students. Voluntary plans are for all other enrolled students.
"Our voluntary plan is less than a $100 a month," Nicholson said. "What it offers is $7,500 coverage for each injury or illness. Each incidence that you may have will be covered up to $7,500. The plan has a $250 deductible, which is pretty good by the industry standard, and a 20 percent co-pay."
A big bonus to this plan is that whenever a student uses IUPUI Health Services the deductible will be waved. However, these services are offered in Coleman Hall, not at the IU Medical Center.
What the plan does not offer is ideal coverage for families and dependents. The plan also has a $200 limit per year for prescriptions, which is low compared to other plans.
Indiana University's student health insurance is heavily regulated and can only be signed up for at certain periods of the year with very few exceptions.
The easiest way to sign up for Indiana University's student health insurance is by going online to www.chickering.com.
"I used to be insured with my parents and then my stepdad got a new job," IUPUI student Sarah Stoehr said. "It was too expensive to keep me on their insurance. I went online and got a free quote. Anthem was the first to contact me.
"Anthem has a plan called the Economy plan, which is designed for people age 19 to 24 that aren't going to the doctors as much and not needing as many prescription drugs," she added. "This works well for me because I can go to see the doctor up to three times a year and it includes dental."
There are many independent health insurance plans that students can easily get enrolled in, though experts like Nicholson warn about the fine print in insurance contracts.
"Insurance is very different; you always want to read what it covers," said Nicholson. "You always need to know what it is you're buying and not to assumes that all insurances are alike."
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