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State University Of New York

International Student Health Insurance FAQ

Who is eligible for International Student Medical Insurance?

Any student who is not a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident is automatically enrolled on the International Insurance Program when they register for one credit hour or more. Spouses and/or children of enrolled students are also eligible for the program.

What do I do if I get sick?

If it is a life-threatening emergency, you should go to the emergency room at a hospital. If it is not an emergency, you should go to the Student Health Center. If they cannot treat you there, they will give you a referral to an outside doctor. The phone number for the Student Health Center is 829-3316.

What happens if I don’t go to the Student Health Center and it is not an emergency?

You will have to pay $100 of your own money for each injury or illness you had treated without a referral from the Student Health Center.

Where can I go for prescriptions if the Sub Board Pharmacy in Michael Hall is closed?

You can have your prescription filled at any pharmacy. However, many pharmacies will ask you to pay for your prescription in advance. If that happens, you will have to fill out a claim form (see question 9 for instructions).

Where can I go for medical treatment if I am unable to visit the Student Health Center?

You can go to any doctor, anywhere. The only country where you CANNOT use the insurance is your home country. If you go for medical treatment and it is not an emergency, you will pay the $100 deductible (see question 3). If the Student Health Center is closed, and it is not an emergency, you can wait until the Student Health Center opens. If it is a medical emergency, you can visit any medical facility.

Where is the Student Health Center?

The Student Health Center is located in Michael Hall on the South Campus. The Health Center is open seven days a week during the academic year. You can contact the Student Health Center for an appointment at 829-3316.

What do I do if I don’t have my insurance card but I need medical treatment?

You can either stop by the Student Medical Insurance Office (SU 223) and pick up a temporary insurance card, have the doctor’s office call the insurance company (HTH Worldwide Insurance Services) Toll Free at 1-866-510-8780-2500, or have the doctor’s office contact the Student Medical Insurance Office at (716) 645-3036.

What do I do if I already have private medical insurance?

If you already have insurance, you can request a waiver form from the Student Medical Insurance Office in room 223 of the Student Union. You can also request waivers over the phone at (716) 645-3036. Waivers are only accepted up to the due date of the first bill on which the insurance charge appears.

What do I do if I get a bill from my doctor?

If you get a bill from your doctor, you can bring it to the Student Medical Insurance Office (SU 223). You can pick up a claim from at that office. If you went to the Student Health Center before visiting your doctor, you will have to take the form to the Student Health Center so they can put a stamp on your form showing that you received a referral. Once you have had your claim form stamped (if applicable) and you have filled out all of the requested information, take the form to the Student Medical Insurance Office (SU 223) with the bill from your doctor. The bill will then be sent in to the insurance company for processing. It usually takes 7-10 business days for claims to be processed.

How do I know if a claim has been paid?

When a claim is processed, insurance company will send you an Explanation of Benefits form. This form will show you how much the insurance company paid on your claim, and whether or not you owe anything to the doctor. You can also look up your claim at the insurance company’s website: http://www.hthstudents.com.

I submitted a claim, so why am I still getting bills from my doctor?

Many doctors will continue to send out bills for services until payment is received from the insurance company. You only need to submit the bill once for the insurance company to process it.

How do I enroll my spouse or my children on the International Student Medical Insurance Plan?

You can pick up an enrollment form for your dependents at the Student Medical Insurance Office (SU 223). You just have to fill out the form and mail it to the insurance company with your payment.

How much does the insurance cost?

The insurance costs $70.75 per month for students, $151 per month for spouses, and $82 per month for children. The rate for children is the same if you are insuring one child or three.

What does the insurance cover?

The insurance covers a wide variety of medical treatments, from hospital visits to prescriptions to surgery to mental health. For a brochure explaining what is covered, please contact the Student Medical Insurance Office at (716)645-3036 or stop by the office (SU 223).

How do I contact the insurance company?

The insurance company is called HTH Worldwide Insurance Services. You can contact them by phone Toll Free at 1-866-510-8780. They have a website designed for students where you can look up information about claims you have submitted, look for doctors in whatever area you are in, and send e-mails to insurance company representatives. The website is at http://www.hthstudents.com.

Who do I talk to if I am having a problem with my insurance?

You can contact the insurance company (see question 15) or you can speak to anyone in the Student Medical Insurance Office in the Student Union, Room 223. The phone number is 716-645-3036.

I don’t understand my Explanation of Benefits form.

The Explanation of Benefits form has all of the information broken up into sections and columns. The first section includes your name, address, and claim number, as well as the name of the person who processed your claim at the insurance company. The next section, divided into eleven columns, contains information about your claim. The first section, Treatment Dates, lists what date(s) you received the medical attention. The Service Code is the insurance company’s way of saying why you went to the doctor (office visit, emergency room visit, etc.). The Charge Amount lists how much you were charged for that service by your doctor. The Co-Pay/Deductible section shows how much of the amount charged you will have to pay for. If you went to the Student Health Center first, or you went for emergency treatment, this section should always say .00. The Not Covered section will list any charge that the insurance company will not pay for. The Reason Code is like the service code—the company’s way of saying why a charge wasn’t covered. If the reason is that the charge exceeds the Reasonable and Customary fee, that means that the doctor charged more than what the insurance company will pay for that service. If you talk to the doctor, they may not make you pay that amount, but they might. The PPO Discount is a reduced rate that the insurance company pays to a doctor if the doctor agrees to a discounted rate. The Eligible Charges is how much the insurance company will pay after the discount (if any) is subtracted from the original charge. The Deductible Amount is the same as the Co-Pay/Deductible column. PCT is the percent of the claim that is covered by the insurance company. If the total bill for an injury or illness is between $4001-$7000 student are responsible to pay 20% of the bill. The Payment Amount is how much the insurance company paid on the claim. The next section shows the name of the doctor you visited, the amount of money the insurance company paid the doctor, and the check number of the check the insurance company sent to the doctor. The next section lists: the total amount charged for a claim, and subtracts the deductible (if there is one), subtracts the amount not covered by the insurance (this includes the PPO Discount and services that are not covered by the policy benefits), subtracts any co-insurance (the percentage you would pay if your bill is between $4001 and $7000), and finally lists the total amount of money paid by the insurance company. The next section explains the service code mentioned above, and the reason code mentioned above (this will only be used if something is not covered by the insurance). The final section contains any message from the insurance company regarding further action you need to take. If the bill is paid in full, you do not need to do anything else. However, the message box usually says you need to submit a fully completed claim form. If you have already done this, and your bill has been fully paid, you do not need to submit another claim form. If you have any specific questions about your Explanation of Benefits form, please contact the insurance company, HTH Worldwide Insurance Services,Toll Free at 1-866-510-8780. You can also contact the Student Medical Insurance Office at (716)645-3036 or stop by the office in room 223 of the Student Union.