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SHIP: Student Health Insurance Plan
The College of New Jersey is once again proud to offer the Student Health Insurance Plan. This is an ILLNESS and ACCIDENT plan with PRESCRIPTION ($300 per year max), MENTAL HEALTH and WELLNESS benefits. The Plan is administered by Bollinger Insurance Solutions and is unique to The College of New Jersey. A benefit of being a TCNJ student is the opportunity to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This Plan is unique to TCNJ and was designed specifically to meet the general healthcare needs of TCNJ students.
What Do You Want to Do?
- Print out my insurance ID card Click HERE.
- Print out my prescription ID card. Click HERE.
- Check the status of a claim. Click HERE.
- Enroll my dependent(s) in SHIP. Click HERE.
- Enroll myself in SHIP because I am a part-time student. Click HERE. Then click on Dependent Enrollment Form.
- Enroll in the Dental Plan. Click HERE.
- Enroll in the Vision Plan. Click HERE.
- Find a doctor in the network. Click HERE.
- Opt out or WAIVE enrollment in SHIP. Click HERE. Note that the deadline has passed for policy period from August 15, 2008 - January 15, 2009. The waiver deadline for the January 15 - August 15, 2009 policy period is January 1, 2009.
- Print out a claim form. Click HERE.
- Find out what this plan covers. Click HERE.
- See if I can find the answer to my question in Frequently Asked Questions. Click HERE.
In order to comply with New Jersey state law (N.J.S.A.18A:62-15), full-time students (undergraduate studies: at least 12 credit hours; graduate studies: at least 9 credit hours) are automatically billed and enrolled in the Plan EACH semester. Students with existing health insurance coverage can OPT OUT by submitting an electronic waiver form by the deadline date prior to the start of each semester/term.
Over 80% of undergraduate students, however, enroll in SHIP each semester AS GAP INSURANCE to their parents' healthcare plan because their are no co-pays or deductibles with this Plan. SHIP can be used as primary OR secondary insurance and it is in effect whether the student is at school or home year-round (if enrolled in both Fall and Spring semesters). SHIP allows students to take full advantage of the healthcare services offered conveniently on campus by providing coverage for necessary diagnostic testing (x-rays, EKGs, lab tests, etc.), medical supplies (e.g., crutches, aircasts), vaccinations, AND prescription medicine. Please note that all TCNJ students are still eligible to use Health Services regardless of insurance coverage.
Part-time students WILL NOT be billed on their tuition statement for SHIP nor will they be automatically enrolled in the Plan. Therefore, part-time students do not need to complete a waiver to opt out of SHIP. Those interested in enrolling in SHIP can do so by visiting the Office of Student Accounts, 119 Green Hall or www.bollingercolleges.com/tcnj (click on Dependent Enrollment Application).
If SHIP will be your only health insurance plan, we advise you to carefully read the limits and coverage provided by this Plan. If you feel that you need more comprehensive coverage, Bollinger can assist you in obtaining an individual plan at a competitive price that may meet your needs. Interested students can contact contact Larry Shoemaker, Senior Vice President, Bollinger Insurance, at 973-921-8086 for quotes on individual health insurance policies. You may also log on to the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance website for information on individual health insurance. Don't forget to investigate whether or not you are a candidate for COBRA.
Parents and students are encouraged to read the benefits of SHIP before waiving enrollment in the Plan. This Plan is particularily important for undergraduate residential students because they are the group who frequent campus healthcare services the most. Parent plans which are HMOs and PPOs are reminded that the doctors and nurse practitioners in Health Services are not in your network. This means that x-rays and tests ordered by a Health Services' provider may not be covered by your insurance plan.
The cost of enrollment in SHIP for the 2008-09 academic year is $120.00 per semester. Coverage is in effect 24 hours per day. For students enrolled during the Fall semester, coverage will be in effect from either August 15, 2008 or the date of the premium payment (for part-time students enrolling on their own), whichever is later, until January 15, 2009. For students enrolled in the Spring semester, coverage will be in effect from either January 15, 2009, or the date of the premium payment, whichever is later, until August 15, 2009. A policy year is defined as August 15 - August 15. The Plan covers injuries sustained and sickness contracted and causing loss commencing during the coverage period. The waiting period for coverage of pre-existing conditions is 6 months on the Plan. There is NO waiting period for prescriptions. SHIP does NOT cover intercollegiate athletic injuries. For information about Athletic Insurance, a secondary insurance provided to TCNJ athletes, contact Megan Guicheteau, interim head athletic trainer, at 609.771.2387.
Highlights of SHIP include the following:
- Basic Benefits: Up to $3,000 for each accidental injury or sickness. The initial treament must be rendered within 90 days of an accident and benefits are limited to treatment rendered within 52 weeks of the date of the accident or the date of the first medical treatment of the illness.
- Major Medical coverge: After the company pays $3,000 in basic benefits for any one accident or sickness, this policy will pay 70% of the expenses incurred in excess of $3,000 up to $47,000. Expenses must be incurred within 2 years from the date of the accident or sickness.
- Prescription drug expense: $300 max total for the policy year (Aug 15, 2007-Aug 15, 2008))- no co-pays. Coverage includes prescriptions for birth control.
- Physician's expense: Outpatient, limited to one visit per day, paid at the usual and customary rate, up to $80 per visit, beginning with the second visit to an $800 maximum. If you use TCNJ Health Services for your initial treatment, it will count as your first outpatient visit. If Health Services is closed (e.g., during semester breaks), or you are more than 50 miles from campus and see a physician, it will not count as your first outpatient visit and coverage will be provided. The idea here is a cost-effective one - use Health Services first for illnesses and injuries because no fee is charged to SHIP for the office visit(s). If Health Services needs to refer you to an outside provider, the visit will be covered up to the limits of the Plan. If Health Services is closed or you are too far away to reasonably come to Health Services (more than 50 miles) and you need to see a doctor, you have no choice but to visit a physician off-campus. So the insurance will exempt the bill from the first visit, no-pay rule.
- Hospital room and board: Semi-private room rate
- Hospital inpatient miscellanous: $3,000
- Physician's Expense: Inpatient, limited to one visit per day, paid at the usual and customary rate, up to $45 per visit, to a $700 maximum.
- Surgical expense: $100 times the unit value of the MDR allowance or $2,500 in total for all surgical operations performed for any one accident or sickness.
- Day surgery miscellanous expense: $1,500
- Anesthesia expense: 40% of surgeon's allowance.
- Treatment of impacted wisdom teeth: As above - same as any sickness.
- Wellness benefit: e.g., Pap smear every year, recommended vaccinations, TB testing, sexually transmitted disease screening. See the SHIP brochure for more information at www.bollingercolleges.com/tcnj or pick one up in the Office of Student Health Services.
- Ambulance: $300
- Outpatient miscellanous (including emergency room) $1,500
- Durable medical equipment (including aircasts, crutches, joint supports): $50
- Laboratory/X-Rays (per sickness): $600
- X-Rays (per injury): $1,000
- Maternity expense: Coverage for hospital confinement due to pregnancy, childbirth or miscarriage. Pregnancy and complications of pregnancy considered as any other sickness. A minimum stay of 48 hours for vaginal delivery and 96 hours for caesarean section. Includes newborn child.
- Second surgical opinions: $80 max
- Physical therapy for sickness or injury: $60 per visit/$300 max
- Dental treatment when made necessary by injury: $800 total.
- Coverage for spouse/dependents (student must be enrolled in SHIP): apply on the Bollinger website at www.bollingercolleges.com/tcnj or in the Office of Student Accounts, 119 Green Hall.
Handling Claims
Written notice must be given to the insurance company within 90 days after loss occurs or as soon as reasonably possible. A claim form is required for filing a claim. Claim forms are available from Bollinger (866-267-0092), at www.bollingercolleges.com/tcnj or from Health Services.
