Macalester health care plan

Colleges and Universities A-Z Macalester College
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My D is accepted for 2022 class and is 95% sure she wants to go to Macalester so we did the accepted student spring event a week ago. They talked about the health care plan for students at the financial talk session and the “waiver” form needed if the student’s current health plan (parent’s plan) is deemed adequate. We currently have our daughter on our health insurance in Madison, Wisconsin, which would cover her only for urgent care, ER and prescriptions if she is out-of-network (there are copays of course). It would not cover her for out-of-network routine or sick health care visits, clinic visits for follow up care after UC visit, mental health care, labs, testing, outpatient surgery, etc. Our plan at home is very comprehensive and is ACA compatible for Wisconsin of course. The Macalester health care site states the student must have ACA approved health care coverage (which means it covers the 10 essential benefits including routine visits, vaccinations, surgery, OB care, etc). I am confused as to whether that means their current health care plan has to cover these benefits if they are out of network while living on campus. If that is the case, our waiver for student insurance would be denied. I am sure other parents have dealt with this as the majority of Macalester students are from out of state.
Can anyone share their experience with whether they opted out of the student insurance plan and what needs to be proven in the waiver?

PS, D is healthy, but has a food allergy requiring an epi pen so she is at higher risk for ER visits. She had one unexpected surgery last year for a condition that has a very slight chance of recurring and needing attention. I also worry that mental health visits are not covered out of network in our plan and anxiety/depression not uncommon in college students.

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Just to add, I called our plan’s benefits line and was told D could be on 2 plans, but our plan would be her primary and the student plan would be secondary. However, on another past thread someone stated that if a health plan is listed with just the student’s name, it has to be considered the primary insurance. The benefits helper said she could not comment on any other health plan specifics. I have not called Macalester for more info, but will likely need to do that next week. Hopefully someone can comment from the parent or student’s perspective.

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Definitely call Macalester. I have found their offices to be above and beyond helpful, which is a big part of the reason my kid chose Macalester.

I can’t speak to the insurance issue since we have Blue Cross, which is accepted nationwide. But in terms of mental health, students can get up to 10 appointments per year at Mac’s Health and Wellness Center. This is often adequate for the standard issues of students - stress, loneliness, homesickness, issues with transitioning to college. The counselors there are well-versed in these issues and also when a problem is beyond their ability to deal with. I do know students who do sessions via Skype with therapists from home, although that relationship was usually established before leaving for college.