UNC-system officials released last week a draft version of a health insurance plan that will be offered on all 16 university campuses starting next year.
The draft is part of a UNC-system plan to offer a single plan to replace insurance options already in place at each school.
The document includes the set of benefits that system officials want the plan to provide.
Students who would purchase their campus option and those without insurance — about 3,365 undergraduate students at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2008 — would likely be enrolled in the new plan.
Students will not have to purchase the system plan. But the UNC-system Board of Governors in August decided to require students to demonstrate comparable insurance coverage in fall 2010.
Insurance providers have until Oct. 26 to submit bids to be the UNC-system’s insurance provider based on the draft.
System officials said they think prospective vendors’ proposals will include lower insurance premiums for students on most campuses. Their preliminary projection is between $549 and $679.
System officials said they will choose a vendor by January so the plan can be available to students next fall.
UNC-system buy-up options
- Maximum medical benefit: $250,000
- Deductible: Options of no deductible or $150 deductible
- Prescription drugs: One option carries no co-payment for drugs purchased at student health centers. A second option carries $10 co-payment for drugs from student health centers and co-payments beginning at $20 for generics from outside pharmacies.
- Preventive care: All routine physical exams and weight counseling would be covered up to $500 per year or an unlimited amount.
Key terms
- Maximum medical benefit: The maximum amount an insurance provider will pay in a covered year. This may be per accident, per illness or per year.
- Deductible: A specified amount that a policyholder must pay in a claim year before the insurance benefits are provided.
- Co-payment: Insurance coverage covers a percentage of medical costs. The portion not paid by insurance is the co-payment and is an out-of-pocket expense.
- Buy-up: The UNC-system insurance proposal would include a basic set of benefits, but individual universities could increase coverage for an additional cost. These extra benefits available to universities are known as “buy-up options.”
- Preventive care: Can include routine physical exams, well-child check-ups, periodic assessments and immunizations.
Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
