Student Health Insurance

Preferred Deadline: June 30, 2012; Final Deadline: September 30, 2012
Overview
The Jewish Theological Seminary’s Office of Human Resources offers an extensive Student Health Insurance Plan for you, your spouse or domestic partner, and dependent children. The plan is administered through the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan (Columbia Plan), and is underwritten by Aetna Student Health. It is an annual plan with coverage dates from September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013. The plan election made is for the entire academic year, and cannot be changed in the middle of a plan year. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE APPLICABLE FORM AT THE START OF EVERY ACADEMIC YEAR. Your enrollment/waiver will be valid for the entire academic year, but does not transfer from year to year.

There are two parts to the Columbia Plan:

  1. Columbia Health Program Fee (Columbia Health): This fee allows students access to the services provided by Columbia Health, located in John Jay Hall on Columbia’s campus. Columbia Health offers primary care, urgent care, women’s health, mental health counseling, and wellness programs. If you enroll in the Columbia Plan, Columbia Health must be your first point of contact. NOTE: For full-time and residential students the Columbia Health fee is mandatory, and you will automatically be enrolled and charged for Columbia Health.
  2. Basic/Comprehensive Level of the Columbia Plan: This plan is administered by Aetna Student Health, and is generally (but not always) used for specialist services. If enrolling in Columbia’s Plan, students will need to choose between the Basic or Comprehensive Level.
  • Basic Level: Provides students with emergency care, prescription coverage, physician office visits, outpatient and inpatient hospitalization, and mental health services.
  • Comprehensive Level: Includes all of the benefits provided under the Basic Level of coverage; however, out-of-pocket and visit/coverage amounts are different.
What are the requirements for full-time and/or residential students?
Definitions

Full-Time: For the purposes of student health insurance, full-time is defined as 9 credits or more—regardless of school.
Residential: Residential students include those students living in Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall, Brush Residence Hall, and Goldsmith Residence Hall.

Columbia Health

All full-time and residential students are automatically enrolled and charged for Columbia Health, regardless of whether or not they waive out of the Columbia Plan. We, therefore, encourage you to utilize Columbia Health’s services, which include urgent, routine, and follow-up medical care.

Student Health Insurance

Prior to the start of each academic year, all full-time and residential students are required to either:

  1. Enroll in the Columbia Plan by completing the Student Health Insurance Enrollment Form.
    OR
  2. Waive out of Student Health Insurance as a result of comparable coverage by completing the Student Health Insurance Waiver Form. Please see the rules of comparable coverage listed on the Student Health Insurance Waiver Form prior to completing the form.

Unless you complete the applicable Enrollment or Waiver form, you will automatically be enrolled and charged for the Basic Level of the Columbia Plan. Please note that it is in your best interest to complete the Student Health Insurance Enrollment Form even if you wish to elect the Basic Level.

What do I do if I am a List College Student?

Joint Program, Columbia University Students: Please complete the JTS Student Health Insurance Enrollment/Waiver Form and NOT Columbia’s Student Health Insurance Enrollment/Waiver Form. JTS’s Office of Human Resources administers your student health insurance and NOT Columbia’s Insurance Office.

Double Degree Program, Barnard Students: For students in the Double Degree Program, health services and insurance are administered through Barnard College. Double Degree students should NOT complete the JTS Student Health Insurance Enrollment/Waiver Form.

What if I am not a full-time or residential student?

If you are not a full-time or residential student, you are considered exempt from the student health insurance requirement. However, you may CHOOSE to enroll in Student Health Insurance by completing the Student Health Insurance Enrollment Form. Should you elect to enroll, Columbia Health is an essential component of Student Health Insurance, and you will automatically be enrolled and charged for Columbia Health.

What is the deadline to submit the Student Health Insurance Enrollment or Waiver Form?

We encourage you to complete and return the applicable form to the Office of Human Resources by June 30, 2012. However, the very last day to submit your form is September 30, 2012 (the deadline for new spring enrollees is February 1, 2013).

How do I return my form?

Please return your form to the Office of Human Resources either:

  1. In Person: Office of Human Resources at Unterberg 108 (Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.)
  2. E-mail: hrdept@jtsa.edu
  3. Fax: (212) 678-8833
  4. Mail: The Jewish Theological Seminary, Office of Human Resources, 3080 Broadway, New York, New York 10027
What are the premiums?

The schedule of premiums, as well as additional information, is included on pages 1–4 of the Student Health Insurance Information and Enrollment/Waiver Form.

Please read the resources posted below very carefully. The above is a synopsis of Student Health Insurance and is NOT intended to be comprehensive.

For any additional questions you may have, please contact the JTS Office of Human Resources at (212) 678-8014 or at hrdept@jtsa.edu.

Information and Enrollment/Waiver Form

2012–2013 Student Health Insurance Information and Enrollment/Waiver Form

Additional Information

Student Health Insurance FAQ

Student Health Insurance Study Abroad Information and FAQ

Student Health Insurance Flowchart

Student Health Insurance Summary of Rules

Useful Links

Columbia Health

Aetna Student Health Website

Contact Information

JTS Office of Human Resources:
(212) 678-8014 or hrdept@jtsa.edu

Columbia Health:
(212) 854-2284 (General Information)
(212) 854-7426 (Medical Services Appointments)
(212) 854-2878 (Counseling and Psychological Services Appointments)

Aetna Student Health:
(800) 859-8471 (Customer Service)
(800) 238-6279 (Aetna Pharmacy Management)