Q. |
I'm young and healthy. Why should I need health insurance?
|
A.
|
Despite your age and health, you never know when a serious injury or illness will strike. You're not invincible. And if you don't have insurance, who'll pay your bills? Do you have the money to pay $1,500 to fix a broken leg or $3,000 to stay in the hospital? Insurance gives you the peace of mind that, yes, most of your medical bills will be covered in case something happens.
|
|
Q. |
But what about government assistance programs? Won't they help me pay my bills?
|
A.
|
There are assistance programs available to uninsured students but most have strict income guidelines that you must meet before becoming eligible for help. Some programs will only provide help for certain services.
|
|
Q. |
If I get sick but don't have the money to pay, won't doctors and hospitals treat me?
|
A.
|
Yes, most doctors and hospitals will treat you, but they will aggressively pursue collection of your unpaid medical bills by turning your account over to a collection agency. Yes, some hospitals write off a certain amount of care each year, called "indigent care," but if you or your family fail to meet strict requirements, they'll come after you to pay. Somebody will pay -- either you as a paying patient in the form of higher medical bills, or taxpayers.
|
|
Q. |
What is a deductible?
|
A.
|
A "deductible" is the amount of money you must pay toward a medical bill before the insurance company pays. For example, if you have a $20 deductible on a visit to the doctor's office, then you must pay $20 before the insurance begins to pay.
|
|
Q. |
What do "co-payment" and "coinsurance" mean?
|
A.
|
A "co-payment" is a specific out-of-pocket dollar amount that you must pay to a provider at the time of service. "Co-insurance" is a percentage of covered expenses that you must pay, such as, your insurance will pay 80 percent of a bill, and you will pay 20 percent.
|
|
Q. |
What does "usual, customary and reasonable" mean?
|
A.
|
Those words refer to the charges and costs that are typical or standard for your region. Let's say that the usual, customary and reasonable fee, based on an accurate study of doctors' charges, for an anesthesiologist is $500. But your doctor charges you $600, so your insurance will pay its percentage of the $500. You'll pay anything above that percentage of the $500, plus your deductible.
|
|
Q. |
What are "exclusions" and "pre-existing conditions," and will my insurance policy cover them?
|
A.
|
An exclusion is a service that your policy will not cover. A pre-existing condition is an illness, symptom, or diagnosis you had before you took out the policy. Some policies will never cover pre-existing conditions, while others will consider the condition after a waiting period.
|
|
Q. |
Is student health insurance required to attend a college or university in Massachusetts?
|
A.
|
If you attend a college or university in Massachusetts, you'll need to have health insurance.
Pursuant to 114.6 CMR, Section 3.03, in Massachusetts all registered students are required to purchase a health insurance plan unless proof of comparable coverage is furnished.
114.6 CMR 3.00 - Student Health Insurance Program
114.6 CMR 3.03 - Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage
Former citation 117 CMR 3.03
- Students. Effective September 1, 1989, every full-time and part-time student enrolled in an institution of higher education must participate in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage.
- Institutions of Higher Education. Effective September 1, 1989, every institution of higher education must require all full-time and part-time students in the institution to participate in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage.
Statutory Authority -- M.L.G.c. 15A, (*)18; St. 1996, c. 151, (*)597.
History Renumbered from 117 CMR 3.03, 11-15-96.
Date ammended 1996
Colleges and universities offer their own health insurance plans as well as access to information about other providers of health insurance.
ACSA provides students with an economical plan that complies with and satisfies Massachusetts' rules and regulations. For a reasonable price this plan can also reduce financial anxieties associated with unexpected illnesses and accidents.
To obtain information on ACSA's plan, please click here.
|
|
FAQs
