[ Wellness Center ]

Student Health Insurance Information

To ensure that students get the care they need to stay in class and avoid the potential hardship of incurred medical expenses, Elmhurst College now requires all domestic and international, full-time undergraduate and graduate students, to have adequate health and accident coverage. 

Full-Time Students Pre-Enrollment and Waiver

All eligible students have been pre-enrolled in the school-sponsored plan, Student Assist®, underwritten and serviced by Markel Insurance Company. However, domestic students have the option of maintaining primary coverage under a family employee plan or other private insurer. Enrollment for international students is compulsory.

The annual cost of the base plan has been posted to the July tuition invoice and is payable unless the domestic student wishes to waive the annual cost by demonstrating proof of comparable coverage by the waiver deadline of September 15, 2009. After this deadline, students will not be allowed to discontinue coverage and receive a refund of the annual cost of coverage unless they withdraw from school due to military service.

The Student Assist® health insurance plan is a quality, low-cost plan with the following features:

    • Annual coverage from August 1st, 2009, to August        1st, 2010
    • Accident and health base coverage up to $5,000            per incident or illness
    • Local providers referred by The Wellness Center            have no network restrictions
    • Plan benefits serve as primary coverage, or                provide excellent excess or “gap” coverage
    • Worldwide emergency travel assistance for study        or travel abroad
    • Non-insurance discount benefits for retail and mail        order prescriptions, vitamins, supplements,                cosmetics, dental and vision care, and movie               tickets
    • 24/7 Nurse Hotline
    • Optional supplemental major medical coverage up        to $50,000

The full plan brochure and description of the health and discount benefits are available on-line at www.studentassist.com.  If you do not have the pass code access for the Elmhurst College page, you will be given an opportunity to request it.

Optional Supplemental Major Medical Coverage

Full-time students who remain enrolled in the base plan, and all part-time undergraduate and graduate students, have the option to voluntarily enroll in the supplemental medical coverage up to $50,000.  The base plan must be purchased in conjunction with the supplemental coverage.  International students are automatically enrolled in the supplemental coverage.

Questions?

For specific questions about plan coverage or waiver/enrollment instructions, please contact POMCO at 1-866-834-4765, or email markelstudentinfo@pomcogroup.com.


Other Frequently Asked Questions


Q: Even if I have coverage under my parent’s employee health plan, should I consider purchasing the Elmhurst College student health plan? 
A: Absolutely!  The school plan can provide excellent “excess” coverage, helping with gaps in your primary plan, including the cost of high deductibles and co-insurance. 

The school plan has no network restrictions, and covers all local providers and hospitals. If you are from out-of-state and your parent’s plan is an HMO or PPO design, your network may not provide adequate coverage for providers closest to campus.

Also, check your parent’s plan for “age off” provisions. More and more employer health insurance plans may “age off” and drop dependents’ coverage while they are full-time students before they complete their education. Be careful not to let your coverage lapse.

Q: Does this plan cover me when I’m off campus? What about Study Abroad?
A: Yes. The coverage is worldwide, whether studying or traveling abroad, spending time at home during the holidays, even during summer months between academic years. The plan provides complete worldwide emergency travel assistance, including lost passport services and health care referrals.

Q: Can I waive the school insurance plan and receive a refund after the deadline?
A: No. The only exception is that a refund will be issued by entering military service.

Q: Can I enroll after the deadline, and if so, what are the procedures for enrolling?
A: Only students who are new or have a qualifying event can enroll after the deadline – i.e. if the student has been dropped from their current insurance, birth of a child, marriage, divorce or adoption. Anyone enrolling after the deadline must enroll through the school first. A letter is required from your prior insurance carrier indicating the termination date; you have 31 days to enroll.

Q: If I need proof of insurance prior to receipt of ID card, what should I do?
A: Contact Markel at enrollment@markelcorp.com. Please include your full name, name of school, academic year, and a contact phone number to reach you.

Q: How can I obtain a duplicate insurance card?
A: There is a “Request a Duplicate ID Card” link on your school’s webpage at www.studentassist.com.

Q: In the event that I become sick or injured, what should I do? 
A:  You can either go to The Wellness Center, your own doctor or the emergency room so that proper treatment can be prescribed or approved.  If you are referred to a provider off-campus for care, be sure to take your student health insurance ID with you.

Q: What should I do if my Student Health Center is closed or I am away from college?
A: You should immediately consult a doctor and follow his or her advice or go to the emergency room. You should then notify The Wellness Center or POMCO at 866-834-4765 as soon as possible, no later than 90 days after your visit.

Q: Is pre-certification required before I am treated by a doctor or hospital?
A: Certain plans may require pre-certification. Please review the student insurance brochure on your school’s webpage at www.studentassist.com or contact POMCO at 866-834-4765 or markelstudentinfo@pomcogroup.com.

Q: How do I know if my injury or illness is covered?
A: Please refer to the student insurance brochure on the school web page online at www.studentassist.com. This brochure will describe those situations that are and are not covered. If you still have questions, please contact your Student Health Center or contact POMCO at 866-834-4765 or markelstudentinsuranceinfo@pomcogroup.com.

Q: What if I pay the bill for the doctor visit on a covered illness or injury? How do I get reimbursed?
A: Please print and complete the online Markel claim form with the appropriate information and signatures. Attach a copy of your itemized bill(s) and/or receipt(s) and send everything to your Claims Administrator.  Failure to send in itemized receipts will result in payment to the care provider directly.

Q: If I did not pay for my doctor visit on a covered illness or injury, do I still need to fill out a claim form?
A: Yes. Please print and complete the Markel claim form with the appropriate information and signatures and mail to the address on the claim form. A claim form is needed for each new injury or illness.

Q: Where can I find claim forms? What if I have a question about claims? 
A: Claim forms can be found at www.studentassist.com. Please be sure to fill out the entire form with your social security number, your college and permanent address, your date of birth, name of college and college policy number. Remember to sign the form. Failure to submit a complete form can result in a delay in the processing of your claim. If you have attached an itemized bill from your provider then side two does not need to be completed. Please contact POMCO with any questions at 866-834-4765 or markelstudentinfo@pomcogroup.com.

Q: If I am expecting a claims payment, how long will it take to receive my reimbursement?
A: Please allow at least 14 business days from receipt of both a completed claim form and an itemized bill from the provider for your claim to be processed. 

Q: Is there a form I can complete to release and/or authorize my parents to review my Protected Health Information (PHI) and allow access to claim and benefits information?

A: Authorization forms must be completed by the student and faxed to POMCO at (315) 433-5444 or scanned and emailed to markelstudentinsuranceinfo@pomcogroup.com. These forms are located on your school’s webpage on www.studentassist.com. Click on the Privacy Authorization Forms link on the left side of the website for the appropriate form.