Any (cheap) alternative to Penn health insurance (PSIP) ?

<p>Guys,</p>

<p>I have been looking at that PSIP thing and it's kinda real expensive! ($2,800+ per year) I wonder if anyone was able to find a cheaper alternative student insurance that Penn will accept and waive our PSIP? My current insurance plan is only a fraction of PSIP's cost too bad it doesn't cover mental illness thus won't meet Penn's requirement for insurance waiver (what for? I won't just turn insane at Penn, will I?) and the company doesn't offer mental illness coverage.</p>

<p>Please let me know if you are aware of any acceptable alternative to PSIP. Thanks a lot.</p>

<p>There is the Add-On plan which supposed to be a supplement to your existing health plan. If you are missing the mental health then I believe you are qualified to get on this plan. It is about $1500 and you have to go through waiver process first.</p>

<p>[Student</a> Health : SHS Insurance Compliance](<a href=“http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/insaddon.php]Student”>http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/insaddon.php)</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. My current policy is around $50/month. So it’s approx. $600/year + $1539 (Add-on) + 220 Clinical Fee = $2,359. So you just saved me $400+, appreciated!</p>

<p>Anyone aware of an even cheaper option?</p>

<p>I think the 220 fee is for each semester, so the saving is even less than you figured. Sorry.</p>

<p>for international students, would going with Penn’s 2800 option be the best?</p>

<p>^I would also like to know this.</p>

<p>The plan offered at my Daughter’s school is much less than the one offered by Penn. The rate they charge for the year is $1,520. The company can be found at [University</a> Health Plans, Inc.](<a href=“http://www.universityhealthplans.com/]University”>http://www.universityhealthplans.com/)</p>

<p>I don’t know if the plan is less because her school subsidizes it, or if offers less services but it is worth looking in to. </p>

<p>I hope this helps.</p>

<p>parentofpeople, Penn is not on the list of schools they offer insurance plan. It looks like it is for mostly MA and New England schools.</p>

<p>I wonder if they would provide a policy for a student who’s school is not on the list. I didn’t look that far into it, I just went to that page to do the waiver. It might be worth a call.</p>

<p>Since my daughter’s school (Lehigh) is in PA also, we can tell that they are at least licensed to sell insurance in PA so that’s a start.</p>

<p>ttparent’s first post is right. I am waiving it, but they still charge you $440 for pretty much no reason…They find a million and one ways to take extra money… :(</p>

<p>Yes they charge health care fee if you don’t use their insurance plan. For us, my S is already covered through my employer plan but it does not satisfy their requirement and we basically are forced to pay for another plan, and then the health care fee on top of that.</p>

<p>Yes, I don’t know why Penn insurance is so expensive.
MIT insurance is $1450 (plus about around $500 mandatory regardless MIT insurance or outside insurance is used).</p>

<p>Swarthmore insurance is $1075.
<a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/health_center/2010-2011%20Insurance%20Health%20Forms/2011%20fall%20insurance%20enrollment%20waiver%20form.pdf[/url]”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/health_center/2010-2011%20Insurance%20Health%20Forms/2011%20fall%20insurance%20enrollment%20waiver%20form.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I was surprised at how much more it was than Lehigh’s plan, plus they charge that extra fee on top of it regardless. They do have an option for students that have insurance that doesn’t fully meet there criteria and it is less expensive. I saw that on the web site but didn’t look into it. We got pulled for verification and just got our approval. </p>

<p>The other thing I wondered was if they take include that mandatory insurance policy in their estimated COA when they are working out FA.</p>

<p>Northwestern is also very expensive:</p>

<p>Health Insurance Resources for Returning Students - Fall 2011-12
If you had elected the NU/Aetna Plan for the 2010-11 academic year, once your full-time class registration status becomes active for fall 2011, your CAESAR account will be charged a premium of $2,584 for a full academic year’s worth of health insurance coverage.</p>

<p>They don’t include insurance in their financial aid and/or COA calculation.</p>

<p>I have a trick that I use to significantly reduce that cost. Ends up being around 900 for the entire school year.</p>

<p>Care to share?</p>

<p>I’m an international and I (think) I’m on [Study</a> USA-HealthCare Insurance: International Student Health Insurance](<a href=“http://www.travelinsure.com/what/susahigh.asp]Study”>International Student Insurance, Study Abroad | Study USA-HealthCare) </p>

<p>It’s a LOT cheaper and it meets all the requirements.</p>

<p>drnoeyedea: what’s the plan that you use?</p>

<p>Wow! Thanks MajorLazer!!! Is it the Plan A or Plan B that you use? and sorry…I have to ask: you think?</p>

<p>The link given by MajorLazer is for student in a country that he/she is not a residence of. That is what I got from gleaning the plan policy.</p>