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Student Health Insurance from Pearce & Pearce
The period to waive out of Pearce and Pearce insurance is over for spring 2010.
All graduate students and international students
are required to have health insurance. Under this University
requirement, graduate students enrolled in nine or more
hours, all graduate assistants, and international
students must either:
- purchase the student health insurance plan offered by Pearce & Pearce
OR
- waive out by providing documentation of enrollment of a comparable health insurance plan.
HOW DO I WAIVE OUT?
To "waive out" or to "complete the waiver process" simply means to turn
down the Pearce & Pearce student health insurance plan offered by
the University. If you are a graduate or international student and have
comparable health insurance coverage and wish to turn down the Pearce
& Pearce student health insurance plan, you MUST complete the waiver process on-line by February 6, 2010 in order to have the
health insurance fee removed from your tuition.
- You must waive out
each semester (excluding Maymester and summer sessions) or you will be
automatically enrolled into the student health insurance plan and
billed by the Bursar Office.
REQUIREMENTS TO WAIVE OUT
In order for a comparable health insurance plan to
meet the waiver
criteria, your health insurance plan must
feature all of the following:
- Coverage must begin on or before January 6, 2010.
- Coverage that allows the insured student to receive
outpatient, emergency, specialist and inpatient care,
diagnostic testing and procedures, and mental health
inpatient and outpatient care, including alcohol and
substance abuse treatment, in South Carolina.
- Coverage dates must include the semester
academic dates, including breaks and holidays.
- A benefit amount per accident/illness/injury of
$50,000 USD or greater per policy year.
- The policy coverage amount of $250,000 USD or
greater.
- The pre-existing condition limitation can not exceed
twelve months
- If coverage applies to international students:
repatriation of remains of $10,000 USD and medical
evacuation of $10,000 USD.
- Please be aware the USC sponsored Student Health
Insurance Plan meets, and in most cases significantly
exceeds, the required coverage minimums.
PROVIDING A MORE AFFORDABLE OPTION
The University of South Carolina participates in a student health
insurance consortium with other public universities in the state to
provide suitable health coverage at a reasonable price. The Graduate
School has announced that graduate assistants will receive a subsidy
for $275 during the 2009-10 academic year to help them pay for the
Pearce & Pearce student health insurance. This is a 22% increase
from the past academic year. As a result of this subsidy, graduate
assistants will pay only the reduced portion of the semester premium.
COST OF PREMIUM
for an individual |
WITHOUT
the graduate assistant subsidy |
WITH
the graduate assistant subsidy |
SAVINGS
with subsidy |
| Fall semester |
$437 |
$312 |
$125 |
| Spring/Summer semesters |
$638 |
$488 |
$150 |
| Annual (TOTAL) |
$1,075 |
$800 |
$275 |
Remember
that the Pearce & Pearce student health insurance plan comes with a
$300 annual wellness benefit that covers preventive services,
including: immunizations (like Gardasil and flu shots), eye exams and
contacts, physicals, and smoking cessation (like Chantix).
UNINTERRUPTED PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE:
In order to allow uninterrupted prescription coverage during breaks
throughout the year (ex. Winter break, Summer breaks), students who
have the Pearce & Pearce student health insurance plan can click here
to renew their coverage. Once on this site, enter your email address
and password. Then click the "renewal" button for the upcoming
semester.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY HEALTH INSURANCE IS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
THE QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF PEARCE & PEARCE HEALTH INSURANCE
ADDITIONAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
OTHER ENROLLMENT ISSUES
DURATION OF COVERAGE
PRIMARY CARE & REFERRALS
DENTAL COVERAGE
PAYMENT OPTIONS
MORE INFORMATION ON THE WAIVER PROCESS
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
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