Is your freshman ready for college?

Do you have a son or daughter getting ready to start college in August? If the answer is yes, chances are you already have a to-do list of things to buy and errands to run before the big day when you load up the car and make the trip to campus.

There are some important health benefits matters to take care of before sending your son or daughter to college miles from home. The following checklist is designed to help you have everything ready by the time your new freshman leaves for campus.  

  • Empire Plan enrollees should obtain a booklet called "On the Road with the Empire Plan 2005." See your Health Benefits Administrator (HBA), who is usually located in the Personnel Office. You can also download a copy from the Civil Service web site www.cs.state.ny.us. This booklet tells enrollees what they need to know about the Empire Plan when away from home.

 

  • Check with your doctor to make sure all immunizations, including hepatitis, tetanus and meningitis (see below) are up to date.
  • Obtain any new prescriptions or refills needed.
  • Schedule dental or vision appointments if needed.

 

  • If you are enrolled in the Empire Plan and need an identification card for your son or daughter, contact your agency Health Benefits Administrator, who is usually located in your agency Personnel office. If you are enrolled in an HMO, contact the HMO directly to request a card.

 

  • If you are enrolled in the Empire Plan and your son or daughter will need to see a physician while at college, visit the online participating provider directory at www.provider.uhc.com/empire/ to print a list of providers by zip code.

 

  • If you are enrolled in an HMO, contact the HMO to find out what services will be covered if your son or daughter’s college is located outside the HMO’s service area. The toll-free number for each HMO’s member services department is at www.pef.org/healthbenefits/hmos.htm.  

 

  • If your son or daughter is age 19 or over, be prepared to submit documentation that s/he is a full-time student. Each insurer is responsible for verifying that a dependent is eligible for coverage before providing benefits.

 

  • Some colleges offer health insurance policies to students. If you are enrolled in an HMO and your son or daughter will have benefits only for emergency services while at college you may want to consider purchasing a policy. Remember that you also have an opportunity to change health plan options in November.  

 

  • In order to resolve any claim problems for your son or daughter age 18 or over, you will need authorization from him/her in the form of a signed Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) waiver. You can download the appropriate form from the Department of Civil Service web site at www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/. Click on the link for HIPAA Privacy Information, and then print the HIPAA Authorization Form.

 

  • If you are enrolled in the Health Care Spending Account, remind your son or daughter to save receipts from any health-care related expenses such as prescription drug copays or over-the-counter medications (see a list of reimbursable items at http://flexspend.state.ny.us/otc.asp).