Health Insurance

Description
Rates
State Law
When You Will be Charged
How and When to Request a Waiver of Coverage
How to Accept Health Insurance
Health Insurance Policy
Health Insurance Information to Other Departments within Nichols College
FAQ's

Description:

Massachusetts State law mandates that all students who attend college full-time are to be charged a health insurance fee. Students may qualify to waive this fee.

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Rates:

The rate for the 2007-2008 school year is $1,200. The rate for the Spring term only is $803.

The rate for  the 2008-2009 school year is $1,400.

Rates for spouses and/or children are available upon request.

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State Law:

• Massachusetts law requires that every student enrolled in a course load that is equivalent to at least 3/4 full-time enrollment participates in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. The state has placed a mandate on colleges, under penalty, to enforce the regulation.
  • Nine credit hours is considered to be 3/4 full-time enrollment criteria for undergraduate and graduate level students.
• Colleges are required to charge this fee on a yearly basis.
• All students who are enrolled in nine (9) or more credit hours will be billed automatically for health insurance coverage in the first semester that the academic criteria is met. For most students this will be the Fall term.
• The state of Massachusetts sets the minimum coverage requirements for the student health insurance programs.
• For students not covered by a personal or family policy, Nichols College offers a "Student Accident and Illness Insurance Program" through Consolidated Health Plan. Please note that this plan is NOT an all-inclusive health insurance program. The full brochures are available online at www.consolidatedhealthplan.com or are available upon request from Nichols College.
• You may access the full content of the state law at:  www.mass.gov

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When You Will be Charged:

• All students will be charged when they reach an enrollment of 9 credits within a semester. 
  • All course enrollments including online courses and continuous enrollment courses count towards the 9 credits. Please be aware of which term the continuous enrollment course will be credited toward.
• The fee is only charged once in an academic calendar year. The academic year is (in order) Fall term, Spring term, Summer term.
• You will be notified when you are charged a health insurance fee:
  • A statement that includes directions on how to waive the health insurance will be mailed to you
  • An e-mail will be sent to your Nichols College email address with instructions on how to waive the the health insurance.
• The health insurance is assumed to be accepted unless waived within the specified time frames.
• The premium charged for health insurance is non-refundable after the specified waiver dates have expired despite the existence of other coverage.

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How and When to Request a Waiver of Coverage:

Waiver Request:

The Waiver Request Form certifies that your family health insurance policy is comparable to the one offered by the College and meets the standards set by the State of Massachusetts.

• International Students: The state law mandates that Nichols College CAN NOT accept health insurance waivers if the health insurance carrier is based outside of the United States.
• Please note that MassHealth is an acceptable form of insurance for the waiver request
• To qualify for credit, a waiver form must be completed within the dates specified for each term.
• The premium charged is not refundable after the specified dates despite the existence of other coverage.
• You may access the content of the stae law at www.mass.gov.

Waiver Dates:

• Waivers/acceptances may only be completed during specified time frames. Waivers MUST be completed within 30 days of the date of the enrollment in the course that created the ninth credit OR 30 days from the start date of the term in which you are enrolled in 9 or more credits. The latest date applies.

Online Waivers:

• Fall Term: The online waiver program for the Fall term is normally available on June 1st and normally ends mid-September.
  • The last day to complete a waiver request for the Fall 2008 term is currently undetermined.
• Spring Term: The online waiver program for the Spring term is normally available on December 1st and normally ends early to mid February.
  • Spring 2009 dates have not yet been set.

• Online Waiver requests may be accessed at www.consolidatedhealthplan.com.
• Choose Student Health Plans
• Use the drop down box to select Nichols College
• You will be brought to the Nichols College CHP Page
• Choose Online Waiver Form
• You will be prompted with directions for DECLINING the insurance.
  • Please enter your 7 digit student ID# (including leading zeros) in the section labeled Student Social Security Number in place of your social security number.
  • Make sure that you enter a valid e-mail address. You will receive an email confirming that you entered a waiver. Save this email for your records. It is your only proof that you did enter a waiver. DO NOT mail the confirmation to Nichols College.
    • Please be aware that automated "SPAM" or "Junk Mail" filters may place the confirmation e-mail into "Junk" or "Spam" folders. We have been advised that this is an issue with AOL email accounts.
• If for any reason Nichols College can not accept the waiver that was entered, we will contact you.

Paper Waiver:

• Paper Waiver: If you can not access the link for the online waiver , the online waiver is not available, or are uncomfortable submitting your insurance information online, then you may submit a paper waiver form.
  • This form must be completed and RECEIVED by the College by the stated waiver deadlines.
  • The health insurance paper waiver can be downloaded from this link: Health Insurance Waiver.

Health Insurance Fee Reversal:

• Once or twice a week Nichols receives the waivers that were completed online from Consolidated Health Plans.
• The student accounts are then updated to reverse the health insurance fee.

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How to Accept Health Insurance: 

• Default: Coverage will assume to be accepted at the end of the specified waiver period if a valid waiver has not been completed. 
• Online Acceptance: May only be completed during specified time frames:
  • Online acceptances are available during the same time frame as online waivers. See section When to Waive.
• Online Waiver requests may be accessed at www.consolidatedhealthplan.com.
  • Choose Student Health Plans
  • Use the drop down box to select Nichols College
  • You will be brought to the Nichols College CHP Page
  • Choose Online Waiver Form
  • You will be prompted with directions for Accepting the insurance.
    • Please enter your 7 digit student ID# (including leading zeros) in the section labeled Student Social Security Number in place of your social security number.
    • Make sure that you enter a valid e-mail address.
    • You will receive an email confirming that you entered a waiver. Save this email for your records. It is your only proof that you did enter a waiver. DO NOT mail the confirmation to Nichols College.
      • Please be aware that automated "SPAM" or "Junk Mail" filters may place the confirmation e-mail into "Junk" or "Spam" folders. We have been advised that this is an issue with AOL email accounts.
    • You will receive an email confirming that you chose to ACCEPT the insurance.
• Accepting the insurance will stop the repeated reminders to you that you have not yet waived the insurance.

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Health Insurance Policy:

Effective Dates:

• Once the insurance is accepted, it is effective until the end of the period for which the premium has been paid.
  • The coverage may not be terminated within the effective dates (see Policy brochure for specific exemptions).
  • There is no refund of the insurance premium after the insurance has been accepted (see Policy brochure for specific exemptions).
  • The 2007-2008 policy is effective from August 15, 2007 to August 14, 2008
  • The coverage dates for the 2008-2009 policy will be posted shortly.
  • Consolidated Health Plans is the company that provides the Health Insurance Coverage for Nichols College.

Information Shared with Consolidated Health Plans:

• Lists of students who have accepted the health insurance are sent to Consolidated Health Plans by Nichols College after the specified waiver dates have passed.
• The following information is sent to Consolidated health Plans for students who accepted the Health insurance:
  • Last Name
  • First Name
  • Middle Initial
  • Address (Street, City, Zip Code)
  • Gender (Male/Female)
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Student Id number
    

Health Insurance Cards:

• Health Insurance cards are received by Nichols College within 5 to 10 business days after the cards are requested.
  • Nichols College receives the health insurance cards in individually sealed envelopes with the insured's name and mailing address showing. 
    • Cards for the Fall term are normally received mid-October.
    • Cards for the Spring term are normally received at the end of February.
    • Cards are mailed to the student after they are received.
  • If you have questions about the "Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Program," need claim forms, or wish to view the Policy Brochure visit www.consolidatedhealthplan.com.

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Health Insurance Information to other Departments within Nichols College:

Please note that you may be asked to submit proof of health insurance to other departments within Nichols College.

• The Health Services department may require health insurance information and/or health related forms and documentation.
• The information submitted to these departments IS NOT TRANSMITTED to the Business Office. Submission of health insurance information to other departments within Nichols does NOT constitute submitting proof of insurance for the waiving of the health insurance fee. You will need to follow ALL of the above procedures in order to have the health insurance fee waived. See section How and When to Request a Waiver.

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FAQ's:

What if I waive coverage and then I lose my current health Insurance?

• Answer: Per Massachusetts state law you have 30 days from the date you lose coverage to request to be added on the Nichols College Policy.
  • Nichols College will need a copy of the official letter stating that coverage is being canceled and a request to add the student to Consolidated Health Plans policy.
  • The request must be received within 30 days of the loss of coverage (can be requested prior).
  • Nichols will forward the request to Consolidated Health Plans (along with the all the information listed in the "Information shared with Consolidated Health Plans" section.)
  • Consolidated will notify Nichols of the pro-rated premium. Policy is added as of the loss of coverage date.
  • Student will be billed for the added health insurance information.
  • The policy will remain in effect for the remainder of the policy term.
  • All policies regarding accepted health insurance do apply.

What if I have coverage and forget to waive the coverage or Nichols College does not receive a waiver from me? 

• Answer: You will be charged the health insurance fee. You wil be unable to waive the coverage and reverse the fee after the deadline for waivers has passed.

How do I know if a waiver was received?

• Answer: The health insurance fee will be removed from your statement.

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