FAQ-Online Health Insurance Selection Process

University Health Service (UHS)

Frequently Asked Questions

All full-time students must complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process. The link to the online Health Insurance Selection Process is in the pink box in the left column of the UHS home page.

The Frequently Asked Questions provides answers to the following questions about the Health Insurance Selection Process.

Click on the question for the answer:

When do I need to complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process?

What information do I need to do to complete the process?

Why do I need to complete the online process again? My insurance information has not changed.

Will I receive a confirmation of my insurance selection?

My parents take care of my health insurance. Can they complete the online process for me?

What if I do not complete the Health Insurance Selection Process? What happens?

If I want the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, won’t I automatically be enrolled by UHS?

When will I get my insurance card from Blue Cross Blue Shield?

What if I need to change my insurance selection during the year?

Some Special Circumstances:

I am beginning full-time studies in the summer. What do I need to do about health insurance?

I graduated in May. How long does my insurance cover me?

I will be studying abroad next semester. Do I need to complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process if I do not want the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) insurance through UHS?

I am a part-time student. Can I enroll in the BCBS insurance?

1. When do I need to complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process?
If you are a full-time student and will be continuing in the fall, we recommend completing the online process by June 30 to assure correct billing on your July tuition bill. If you are unable to complete the process by that date, you should complete the process before August 31. If you wait until after classes start, you will be enrolled and billed for the BCBS insurance even if you have your own health insurance. You can avoid being billed for the BCBS insurance by completing the Health Insurance Selection Process by the end of August (or the end of December if you are starting full-time studies in January).
Back To Top

2. What information do I need to complete the process?
You will need your Net ID and password. If you are remaining on your own (or your parent’s) insurance, you will be asked to enter information about your insurance coverage (contract number and the name, address, and phone number of the company). This information is usually found on your insurance card.

The link to the online selection process is on the UHS home page in the pink box. To complete the process for the upcoming academic year, click on 2009-2010. On the next screen, you will be asked to enter your Net ID and password to continue.
Back To Top

3. Why do I need to complete the online process again? My insurance information has not changed.
Each year’s insurance information is in a separate database. Each year, we need all full-time students to enter their information into the new database for the coming year to verify their insurance selection. The online process will only take you a few minutes to complete.
Back To Top

4. Will I receive a confirmation of my insurance selection?
When you complete the Health Insurance Selection Process, the system will confirm your selection before you exit the system. You may want to print this page as your confirmation. You can also confirm your selection by re-entering the online Health Insurance Selection Process. The system will tell you what you selected and ask if you would like to make a change. You can print this page as your confirmation. If your selection is as you intended, you can click on NO and exit the system. If you want to make a change, click on YES and complete the selection process to make your change.
Back To Top

5. My parents take care of my health insurance. Can they complete the online process for me?
If you would like your parents to complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process for you, they will need your Net ID and password.
Back To Top

6. What if I do not complete the Health Insurance Selection Process? What happens?
If you do not complete the online process by August 31, you will be enrolled in the BCBS insurance and billed for the insurance. If you have your own (or your parent’s) insurance, it is especially important that you complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process, so you are not charged for insurance you do not need. By completing the process by June 30 you will avoid being charged for insurance.

Check your July tuition bill to be sure the charge for the insurance is correct. If it looks like you are being charged for the BCBS insurance and you do not want this insurance, go online and complete the Health Insurance Selection Process right away. Your tuition bill can only be credited for this charge after you have completed the online selection process. Your tuition bill will be credited for the remaining months in the year, but UHS cannot remove the charge for months that have already passed.

Here’s an example: You are covered by your parent’s insurance. You do not complete the online selection process and are charged for the BCBS insurance on your July tuition bill. You do not complete the online selection process before the start of classes. In November, you receive an insurance card from BCBS and realize you have been enrolled in the BCBS insurance since September 1. The only way to have the charge removed from your tuition bill is to complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process. If you complete the selection process in November, you will receive a partial refund for the fall semester effective December 1 and a full refund for the spring semester. You will not receive a refund for September, October, and November. The way to avoid paying for insurance you do not need is to complete the Health Insurance Selection Process before June 30 (or August 31 at the latest).
Back To Top

7. If I want the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, won’t I automatically be enrolled by UHS?
All students need to complete the online process to make their insurance selection. It is true that you will be enrolled in the BCBS insurance if you do not complete the process by the start of classes; however, enrolling in this way will delay your receipt of your insurance card by 2-3 months and may cause some difficulties if you should need to use your insurance before you have your card. The best way to enroll in the BCBS insurance is to complete the online selection process before classes begin.
Back To Top

8. When will I get my insurance card from Blue Cross Blue Shield?
If you complete the Health Insurance Selection Process by the end of August, you can expect to receive your insurance card by the end of September. Your insurance will take effect on September 1 whether you have your card or not. If you wait to complete the Health Insurance Selection Process until September, you will not receive your insurance card until the end of November. Once you receive your insurance card, we recommend carrying your insurance card with you. If you are covered under your own or your parent’s insurance, you should have your own insurance card to carry with you.
Back To Top

9. What if I need to change my insurance selection during the year?
You can re-enter the Health Insurance Selection Process at any time. Any change you make during the year will take effect on the first of the following month. Your payment will be pro-rated (e.g., if you enroll in the BCBS insurance beginning November 1, you will pay the insurance fee for November through August.)
Back To Top

10. I am beginning full-time in the summer. What do I need to do about health insurance?
If you are starting as a full-time student in the summer and continuing as a full-time student in the fall, you will need to select health insurance for the summer using the Health Insurance Selection Process for the current year (2008-2009) and the 2009-2010 selection process for the fall. The link to both years is in the pink box on the UHS home page.
Back To Top

11. I just graduated in May. How long does my insurance cover me?
Students who graduate in May or June are covered until August 31 unless they notify UHS they wish to cancel their coverage before that date. Students graduating mid-year can check with the UHS Insurance Advisor at insurance@uhs.rochester.edu or 585-275-2637 for information about coverage termination.
Back To Top

12. I will be studying abroad next semester. Do I need to complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process if I do not want the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) insurance through UHS?
Yes, you must complete the Health Insurance Selection Process. It is especially important for you to complete the process by the end of August if you are remaining on your own or your parent’s insurance plan. When you waive the BCBS insurance and stay on your own insurance, you will not be charged for the mandatory health fee. If you neglect to complete the online process, you will be billed for the BCBS insurance and the mandatory health fee when you return for the next semester.
Back To Top

13. I am a part-time student. Can I enroll in the BCBS insurance?
No, part-time students are not eligible to participate in the student health plan (i.e., mandatory health fee and BCBS health insurance). You are welcome to come to UHS to receive care on a fee-for-service basis.
Back To Top