<p>We just realized we were charged for health insurance this year, which we do not want. We went through this last year when he was a freshman, and found it was cheaper to insure him through our jobs so we opted out. We forgot to opt out last fall and are now stuck with a $1500 bill.
We'd like to sue, but don't know where to start. Anyone else up the same creek?</p>
<p>Ummm, as I read your entry, it states YOU forgot to opt out of the insurance so why would you sue anyone? It is your mistake.</p>
<p>well, if it's $1500 for the entire year, and the second semester has not started yet, you may be able to call the bursar's office and cancel for the second semester. I cannot imagine that you can do anything about the Fall.</p>
<p>Ours was mandatory and $375 for the entire year. No option on not getting it. We also have insurance through my husband's work, but the policy thru college serves as daughter's secondary. Covers pretty much everything between the two.
Too bad you missed it in the fall.</p>
<p>There's a health service fee, and then there's additional health insurance offered for those who don't have family coverage. The health service fee is mandatory, but in order to decline the insurance you actually have to provide proof of family coverage.</p>
<p>Ours is about $900-$1,000 annually and requires proof of coverage in order to waive it and must be waived each year...fight for the 2nd term refund, even if the first term cannot be helped.</p>
<p>Ours requires proof of coverage every year in order to waive the college health insurance. You do need to read the paperwork the college sends home.</p>
<p>duplicate thread:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=298266%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=298266</a></p>
<p>We almost opted out of the coverage because we have our own, but we're now glad we didn't. At D's school, the school plan covers any visit to the college health center with no deductable or copayment.</p>
<p>Our health insurance requires proof each semester. The college requires proof at the beginning of the school year. Thanks for the reminder- I have to contact the registrar at my daughters college tomorrow! I keep forgetting.</p>
<p>My S has had 2 medical issues over the past two years while at the University of Chicago, and I'm really happy that we didn't decline the health insurance. We had opted out his freshman and sophomore year, but after a friend's son became deathly ill at another U (and we saw the extent of potential medical expenses when your insurance is out of state), we decided to accept the additional coverage. He has now had numerous visits to specialists, MRI's, CAT scans, specialized tests and surgery and we have paid next to nothing out of pocket becasue he has primary and secondary health insurance through our policy and the school's policy. We also became very cognizant of what health care facilities were available nearby as our D went through the admissions process this year. It may be expensive, but you never know when it's going to be necessary.</p>
<p>I can't imagine what basis you would have for a lawsuit. Where my kids go to college, parents and students can opt out of the school health insurance cost and policy IF their coverage is better than what the school offers. It is, however, the student/parent's responsibility to fill out the health insurance waiver and submit it by the deadline. The website is clear...if this is not done, the fee will be charged for the full year. Where my kids go to college, visits to the health center are without charge regardless of which health insurance policy the child has (school or home). The colleges just want to be assured that students have health coverage in case of the need for hospitalization or special tests if needed.</p>
<p>This happened to us by accident . We did have to pay for the first semester , and were able to get the waiver in by the second semester . I read every piece of paper that comes in the mail now from that college !</p>
<p>You should also know that even with your own coverage, many plans do not cover medical care out of state except for emergency room visits. Friend's son needed knee surgery over christmas break and all follow up visits and physical therapy were not covered back at school. It was much more expensive then the school's coverage. It may seem like double coverage - but check your policy - if you need it it's a nightmare to fly your child back and forth or drop out for a semester.</p>
<p>altmom, What is the solution to that scenerio? I would not think that insurance through the college would cover physical therapy for a premium of $1500, but I could be wrong. That really is a problem when one is working with insurance that has networks. I guess you might need to pay the deductables and go out of network. This may be another reason to access one's out of network coverage.</p>
<p>Many major plans have limited coverage in other states. Our PA based plan has nationwide coverage, and first thing we did was make a list of hospitals, doctors of various specializations and labs, in the area that my d goes to school, so that she knows where to turn.</p>
<p>S can go anywhere, but it would be out of network, and we need to meet our deductable for out of network physicians. I think then they pay 80% of what they deem reasonable, which means that it would cost us a small fortune. I know that there is a some cap on that though (believe around 5000), and then they pay the rest at 100%. In such a terrible situation I would not imagine my son in school anyway. I know for emergency care our kid can go to any emergency room and it is covered as in network. We have had that experience when out of town.</p>