About Us

Services

Insurance

New Students

Health Resources

FAQ's

Student Involvement

Website updated on:

December 20, 2007
©Binghamton University Health Services

Website Created by: Cara Pomerantz.
Webmaster: Johann Fiore-Conte

Questions? Email Us!

Health Insurance

Need a student insurance claim form? Click Here

International student insurance claim form - Click Here

All full time undergraduate students at Binghamton University are required to enroll in the student health insurance plan unless other coverage is in place. If a student is covered by another health insurance policy, and is confident that his/her coverage will be adequate in the Binghamton/Broome County area, the student may return a waiver request form to Student Accounts that identifies the specifics of the alternate coverage. Only then will enrollment in the student sickness and accident plan be waived.

The student sickness and accident plan is optional for part time students, dependents of students enrolled in the student plan and graduate students who do not qualify for the graduate student health plan. International students have a specific mandatory plan through the International Student and Scholar Services office (607.777.2510) or Here.

Detailed benefit information will be mailed with billing forms to all students during the summer. Summary information about benefits will be mailed to new students with health forms.

Questions about the requirement may be directed to the University Health Service at 607.777.2221.
Questions specifically about the 2007-08 plan year benefit coverage and any personal factors should be directed to
Jeannie Meinzer or Mary Pasquarella
Niagara National Inc.
1.800.444.5530
www.niagaranational.com

WHY?

Health insurance helps with expenses incurred by receiving medical care off campus. You may think that this will never happen, but some common reasons students get bills are:
visits to emergency rooms when the Health Service is closed
visits to walk-in clinics when the Health Service is closed
when the Health Service sends you off campus for urgent care or stitches or x-rays, etc.
if you need to be hospitalized
if you need specialist care such as orthopedic care or dermatologic care
if you need surgery of any kind
The health fee does not cover off campus care. That is why health insurance is so important!
** If you are enrolled in a managed care plan in your home community, your coverage may not be adequate when you are away from home. The student plan often provides important support for high deductibles, out of network charges, or charges from non-participating providers.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE?

There are actually three types of health insurance available on campus. Which type you are eligible to enroll in depends on your status as a student. Please read the following to determine what program applies to you:

• International Students are required to have health insurance. The State University of New York provides a plan for students on F-1 and J-1 visas and it is administered through the International Student and Scholar Services office. Questions about enrollment or benefits can be directed to that office at 607.777.2510. The plan utilizes the Health Service as the primary care provider, meaning that students are to use the campus service first whenever possible to avoid large deductible charges.
  
  
• Funded Graduate Students (RA's, GA's and TA's) may be eligible for health insurance through the University or the Research Foundation, depending on the source of funding for the position. Questions about enrollment and benefits may bedirected to the Benefits Office for those who are funded through the State of New York and represented by the GraduateStudent Employee Union (GSEU). The Benefits Office number is 607.777.4850.
  
  
• Funded graduate students whose funding comes from the Research Foundation may direct questions about enrollment and benefits to the Sponsored Funds Office at 607.777.4264.
  
  
• All other students (undergraduate, unfunded graduate, full or part-time) can enroll (full time undergraduatestudents are required to enroll unless they have alternate coverage) in the Student Accident andSicknessPlan (www.niagaranational.com) . This plan provides support for medical costs incurred off campus anywhere in the world.
  
  The premium for 2007-08 will be $784 per year, billed $330 for fall and $454 for spring/summer.

Brochures describing the benefits are available at the University Health Service upon request.

Health Services Home