Student Insurance/Waiver requirement

Adequate health insurance coverage is a major issue facing today's college students. With the rising cost of health care coverage, many students are challenged to obtain health care due to the fact that they are either uninsured or under insured. Upon entry to Barry University a great deal of our student population is covered by private insurance plans. However as the years pass, many students lose coverage for one reason or another. In addition, many international plans and out-of-state managed care plans are not transferable to the Miami area.

Unfortunately, when individuals covered by out-of-area managed care plans do have occasional illnesses requiring prescriptive care, they are forced to seek emergency room care. This is a major inconvenience resulting in long waiting times and frequent claim denials for non-emergent care provided in a hospital setting. This can result in large out-of- pocket expenses. For the protection of all of our students Barry University has a strict policy regarding health insurance coverage.

All students residing in any/all university provided  housing and all international students attending Barry University on an F-1 or J-1 visa are required to provide proof of adequate health insurance prior to checking in to their residence and/or before the first day of classes. Failure to comply with the University policy may negatively affect the student's registration process and/or the arrangements for any/all university provided  housing. Proof of insurance is considered complete when a copy of the students’ insurance card has been provided to the Student Health Center and  the insurance waiver has been completed.

Proof of insurance and completion of the insurance wavier is required  on an annual basis thereafter. If proof of insurance and an approved insurance waiver are not provided prior to the start of classes,  the fee for the Barry sponsored student insurance plan will be assessed to the student's account.  If a student insurance fee has been assessed to a student's account due to lack of compliance with the university policy, such fees are irrevocable and will not be credited under any circumstance.

Adequate coverage is defined as insurance benefits comparable to the SHC sponsored plan:

  • access to primary care (emergency only care is not comparable coverage)
  • Inpatient coverage of 80% of Usual and customary reimbursement
  • prescriptive medications
  • inpatient and outpatient mental health benefits (including alcohol and substance abuse treatment)
  • an individual deductible not to exceed $1500 per policy year
  • Maternity benefits
  • the insurance company must be licensed to do business in the State of Florida

International Insurance must include all of the above plus:

  • Repatriation of $10,000
  • Medical Evacuation of $25,000
  • Claims Agent in the United States
  • Claims payable in United States dollars

Students with limited out of area coverage or otherwise inadequate coverage are urged to carefully review their options before waiving the SHC sponsored insurance plan.

Fall 2011 Waiver Process:

Beginning Fall 2011, the insurance wavier will be available through MyBarry. The wavier is a two part process. Part 1 verifies the adequacy of the student’s primary health insurance coverage. Part 2 pertains only to the Supplemental Health Insurance Option. Both parts of the waiver process must be completed to be eligible for submission and, must be done prior to the checking in to university housing and/or prior to the first day of classes. This wavier is required on an annual basis each Fall semester.
Failure to comply with the university insurance/waiver requirement will result in a non-refundable charge to your student account for the current semester of the Barry Primary Insurance Plan.

Student Insurance Plan Options:

Delaying health care, can negatively affect a student’s academic progression. To better serve our diverse student body,  Barry University offers two insurance plans to all fulltime undergraduate students taking 9 or more credits and all graduate students taking 4 or more credits or taking thesis.

The Primary Student Health Plan is designed to cover 100% of all services provided at the Student Health Center only, including vaccinations ($ 200 max) and well physicals. The plan pays 80% of in-network services at off-site providers after deductibles and co-payments apply.

The Supplemental Student Health Plan  Plan is plan is designed specifically for use only at the Student Health Center for students that have limited transportation to off-campus providers.  This plan provides 100% coverage for medical services at the Student Health Center only, up to $1,000 per injury or sickness. In addition, coverage is provided for vaccinations up to $ 200.00, and prescription drug coverage up to a maximum of $500 per policy year. The Supplemental Plan is available to all students with a personalprimary insurance plan regardless of their housing status. Students who are enrolled in the Barry Student Primary plan are not eligible for the Supplemental Plan.

The current student health insurance plan is administered by:

GM Southwest
6946 Lebanon Road
Frisco, TX 75034
(800) 477-4415
Important Notice!

Access to health care can be challenging for many students living in any/all university provided housing for various reasons: they are unable to find a provider in the area to be seen promptly, they are unable to afford the cost of the office visit fee required by their insurance or, they do not have transportation. This has resulted in unnecessary delays in treatment and in many cases high health care fees.

In order to address these issues, beginning fall 2010 the Student Health Center, in collaboration with Residential Life, has instituted a $76.00 bi-annual billing for the Student Health Center Supplemental Plan to all students residing in university provided housing who are covered under a private insurance plan. This $76.00 fee will be assessed to your student account once in the fall and once in the spring. This plan covers 100% of all ill visits in the Student health Center including prescriptive medication prescribed by the SHC. It also provides coverage for required vaccinations, and flu vaccinations.

We respect an individual’s rights to seek health care off campus for a variety of reasons; therefore, students may opt to waive out of the supplemental plan by completing the supplemental insurance waiver. 

For more information regarding student insurance policies, please go to www.gmsouthwest.com

For physician provider list: www.gmsouthwest.com

For more information on dental plans:  www.gmsouthwest.com

Forms

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