Graduate Student Health Care
The GSG created the Health Insurance Committee in response to rising health insurance premiums and the needs of the large number of graduate students who were without health coverage. After considerable research and deliberation, the committee recommended a mandatory, waiver-based plan for graduate students. In the spring of 2003, the general GSG board voted to adopt such a plan provided that the university pays for at least 50% of the premium. The University of Maine included funding for this initiative in its budget starting in the fiscal year 2004-05 and each successive year.
Health Insurance
Our health insurance plan is underwritten by the Nationwide Life Insurance Company of Columbus, OH. If you are a Graduate Assistant, the university will pay for half of your annual premium and you are responsible for the other half, refer to the GSG website for specific details. Services from providers including Cutler Health Center generally require a co-pay, coinsurance, and meeting the deductible for reimbursement. There is no need for a referral from Cutler to see another provider. The maximum benefit is $100,000/year with a deductible of $250/year per person. The co-pay for prescription drugs is $12 for generic and $25 for brand name. The maximum prescription drug benefit is $2500/year. Also covered in the plan is an annual dental cleaning of up to $150, which does not require meeting a deductible. Our current health insurance plan makes use of a preferred provider network. For a directory of providers within the network, you can visit www.hcvm.com/medicalEd/logon.do . Dependents can be added to your policy for an increase in premium. The University of Maine will not cover 50% of their premium cost however. Please be aware of the wellness benefit for up to $100 to cover a yearly physical, immunizations etc. Complete details can be found in the Health Insurance flyer at http://www2.crossagency.com/2009-2010/pdf/umaine_aft.pdf .
Enrollment in this plan is mandatory for Graduate Assistants. The university provides a paycheck deduction option for splitting up the cost over the academic year; ask about this at the Bursar’s office if you are interested. If you already have comparable health insurance, you may waive participation in the plan provided that you supply proof of your other insurance. For specifics of the plans, you can check the GSG web site or FirstClass folder to view current copies of the Schedule of Benefits and the Policy Brochure. Graduate students who are not supported by the University are not eligible for this plan. They have the option of enrolling in the Grad/Undergrad plan for the premium of $2082/year. Any questions or problems you may have with filing insurance claims can be referred to our insurance advocate Lisa Farrington or Michael Parkin (1-800-537-6444; http://www2.crossagency.com/2009-2010/umaine_u.php).
Other Options
NAGPS (National Association of Graduate and Professional Students) offers several fairly low-premium plans with options to pay extra for major medical coverage. Check out this website for a brochure and application (http://www.nagps.org/membership/join).
United Health Care also offers plans tailored to students which can be found at .https://www.uhcsr.com/.
MaineCare: Some graduate students with low incomes may qualify for free or practically free healthcare from the state of Maine. The MaineCare program covers eligible families with children, pregnant women, and elderly and disabled individuals. You must be a resident of Maine, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have an income between 150-185% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is around what a TA is paid. Also, if you are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer and have no health insurance, you might qualify for MaineCare regardless of your income level. You can read about MaineCare services at www.maine.gov/dhhs/bfi/MaineCare.htm. It can be tricky to determine on your own if you qualify; your best bet is to visit the Office of MaineCare Services online at www.maine.gov/dhhs/bms/ for instructions on contacting an eligibility specialist who can help.
Free Care: There is a program at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor as well other medical centers in Maine that enables folks whose annual income is less than $16,245 gross ($21,855 for two people) to receive some emergency and necessary hospital care for free, if you sign up in advance. It can apply to you in some cases even if your income is slightly above that listed.
Visit www.ptla.org/ptlasite/health/hospital.htm. For more information, visit http://healthinsuranceinfo.net/me.pdf to download a consumer guide to health insurance in the state of Maine and your rights as a health insurance consumer.