Medical Question I Forgot To Ask

Having 2 children in different Universities presented us with 2 different requirements. We were able to waiver out of the schools insurance for my daughter, being that she is covered by our health insurance. The few times she has needed medical attention, (flu,cold), it has been a pain to get everything straight with the out of state hospital/infermery etc.
With Illinois, we were told that it is mandatory that student athletes carry the school insurance. I'm sure it is secondary to our coverage but it covers them for anything on the field or off. Injury and or illness, trips to the doctors or surgery. This is included in the FEES.

Good post!
Most universities charge you a medical fee. If your student (athletic or non athletic) becomes ill anytime of the day or night, they can go to the health center, free of charge. My son uses the team doctor and gets all of his medications for no charge. I am to assume the medical fees cover this.
It is also mandatory at sons school for the student to carry additional hospitalization. Most athletic programs are secondary insurance, they will pay whatever private insurance does not.

I found something interesting out a few years ago. Since my son is living off campus and has a legal address in the state, it was cheaper to insure him through the Blue Cross/Blue Shield as a 19 year old than on my insurance as a dependent here in FL. It is strictly a doctor/hospitalization policy, no pharmacy, which he didn't need anyway. This tip was given to me by the head trainer at his school. It was very inexpensive for a 19 year old. I also learned that scholarship students can receive glasses and contacts for FREE. Dental insurance is not mandatory, the school will pick up the tab for injury.
And never consider those student policies you hear about, most do NOT cover injuries in sports.

Coach Merc brings up a great point, you could ask if they could be waived. I am sure each school has their own policy regarding that and what they cover.

Ahhhh yes, one of the many fees you will see on the bill.

I forgot to ask them too! My son was covered under our “family plan” insurance but all medical care and all doctor visits, medications, contacts, etc. were provided by the university’s medical staff. Son had two surgeries during his college --- one was sport related and one was not. The broken finger (sports related) surgery was handled completely by the university and the other surgery would have been covered by my insurance but the college wanted him to have the surgery at the university therefore my insurance considered it out of area and would not cover it. The University covered the full amount. I never thought to ask about insurance when my son was recruited and was pleasantly surprised at the care that was provided. Auburn Baseball was fortunate in the baseball complex also housed Health South and Alabama Sports Medicine Institute headed by world renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews so quality health care was just a few yards away.
Fungo

You really should check into this. College policies are all over the map.

I received a letter this summer from the athletic department of my son's college. In it they absolved themselves of all medical cost responsibilities for injuries received during athletic events. The college requires each student to offer proof of coverage from a family health insurance policy or purchase a student health insurance plan from the college.

Mind you, this is no penny-ante school we're talking about. The college has a $3 billion (yes, that is a 'B') endowment and sponsors several NCAA D1 athletic programs. You'd think they would cover their athletes with an umbrella policy.

dbg, wow that's an eye opener - while a student athlete ours was covered by school policy - he had to use it a few times & never experienced any red tape, just bills quickly paid.

we are currently dealing with insurance issues as he was just dropped from our family plan on his 23rd birthday - monthly cobra costs were laughable

forunatly Tech has available for students a medical plan nearly as good as our family plan at a very, very reasonable cost. As a student he can enroll for a 1 yr period & will be covered for that period anywhere in the US even after graduating till the policy runs out.

Brousing the policy site I notice they cover literally hundreds of colleges & universities, most in the SE

.

Wow, obviously all schools handle things differently.

Good question to ask when given an offer!

quote:

Good question to ask when given an offer!

An excellent point, TPM.

To go on that list of 20 questions.