Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Kaiser Student Health Plan for Mills Students Effective Fall 2009

Plan Basics

Am I eligible for the Kaiser Student Health Plan?
All enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at Mills College are eligible for coverage, except those eligible for Medicare.

Is enrollment in the Kaiser Student Health Plan required?
Mills College requires healthcare coverage for all enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. If you are currently enrolled in the UCB Blue Shield insurance through Mills College, you will no longer be eligible for that coverage beginning fall 2009, and you will be eligible to enroll in the Kaiser Student Health Plan. If you have comparable healthcare coverage with another plan, such as an individual plan in your name, coverage under your parent's plan, or coverage under your employer's plan, you may qualify for a waiver.

How much does the Kaiser Student Health Plan cost?
See the Mills College Student Health Plan rate schedule.

If I already have health insurance for fall 2009, other than the Blue Shield Coverage through UCB/Mills, can I waive coverage? How?
Yes, just complete the waiver form available on the StudentNet website after July 1. You will have to provide proof of existing comparable healthcare coverage.

When does my coverage start this term?
Fall 2009 coverage through the Kaiser Student Health Plan will be effective August 15, 2009.

If I'm a returning or transfer student, when do I enroll?
Open Enrollment for the Kaiser Student Health Plan will be July 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009 using the StudentNet website.

How am I billed for coverage under the Kaiser Student Health Plan?
Your premium for the plan will be charged to your student account and will appear on your student bill.

Will I need to fill out claim forms?
You do not need to fill out claim forms for care you receive at Kaiser Permanente facilities.

Is there a lifetime maximum under the Kaiser Student Health Plan?
You have no lifetime maximum for care at Kaiser Permanente facilities.

Can I get a refund if I take a Leave of Absence or Withdraw from Mills?
If you take a Leave of Absence or Withdraw  up to and including the day of the Add Deadline (September 9, 2009), you will be credited 100 percent for the Kaiser Student Health Plan charge as long as neither you nor your dependents (if dependent coverage is offered) have used any healthcare services.

If you take a Leave of Absence or Withdraw after the Add Deadline (September 9, 2009), you will not receive any adjustment to the Kaiser Student Health Plan  charge. You (and your dependents, if any) will be insured until the end of the coverage period.

If you are called to active duty in the military service, you can receive a partial refund for the time you would not be able to use the health coverage while on active duty. In this case, your coverage will end on the day you are called to active duty. Members of the U.S. Military Reserve or the California National Guard who are called to active duty as part of the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts can have their coverage reinstated when they return.

What do I use my ID card for?
You will receive a Kaiser Permanente ID card. Use it whenever you receive care from the Student Health Center or a Kaiser Permanente facility and when filling prescriptions at a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy.

Mills College will have a Student Health Center beginning fall 2009. Are the services I receive there covered under the Kaiser Student Health Plan?
Yes, the Student Health Center at Mills will be a part of the Kaiser coverage.  All students are eligible to receive care at the Student Health Center, even if they have waived out of the Kaiser Student Health Plan.

Students will have access to information about Kaiser Student Health Plan coverage both on the Mills website and through Kaiser’s StudentNet website. What will be the difference between the two?
Eligible students will use StudentNet to enroll in or waive coverage under the Kaiser Student Health Plan. Information will be available on the Mills College website about healthcare for students through the Student Health Center on campus as well as at Kaiser facilities.

Is coverage different for international students?
No. International students have the same benefits as any enrolled Mills student. Details about outbound medical evacuation and repatriation will be available in the Kaiser brochure, Repatriation and Medical Evacuation. International students are required to enroll in the Kaiser Student Health Plan.

Can I enroll my spouse, child, or registered domestic partner in the Kaiser Student Health Plan, too?
Mills has chosen to have coverage available for dependents, and eligible students will be able to enroll spouses, children, or registered domestic partners in the Kaiser Student Health Plan during the Open Enrollment Period. More information will be forthcoming about this option.

Once you are enrolled in the Kaiser Student Health Plan, if you marry, have a child, or adopt a child, you will need to submit a Change of Enrollment within 31 days after your family member first becomes eligible.

If I can enroll my spouse, child, or registered domestic partner, when does coverage start?
Coverage start dates for spouses, children, and registered domestic partners will be the same as those for eligible Mills students. If you enroll a child outside of the Open Enrollment Period, including a child placed with you for adoption, the coverage start date depends on the situation.

Getting care

Where do I get care?
You have the following options:

• You will be able to receive care at the Student Health Center on campus during the school year.
• You can always receive care at any Kaiser Permanente facility.
• If you happen to be outside a Kaiser Permanente service area and you need emergency care, you can receive it anywhere and be covered.

Am I covered when I travel?
Yes. If you are going on a trip, you can take advantage of Kaiser’s travel clinic services and contact Member Services for a Travel Kit that explains where and how to receive care when you are away from home.

Will the plan pay for chiropractic services?
Benefit information will be available to the Mills community soon.

What vision services are covered?
Kaiser provides coverage for routine eye exams. You can also visit Kaiser optical centers for a wide selection of designer frames and a full range of lens options for glasses.

Will there be dental coverage?
Mills students will have the same dental coverage through MetLife that was a part of the UCB Major Medical plan.

Where can I get my prescriptions filled?
You can always get your prescriptions filled at any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. You can order refills online at kp.org, or by phone.

Current Kaiser Permanente members

If I am already a Kaiser Permanente member, do I need to switch plans?
No. You have access to the same great Kaiser Permanente services—and to many of the same online resources and tools. You may wish to compare the benefits of your current coverage and those offered through the Kaiser Student Health Plan to determine where you will have the best benefits.  If you wish to enroll in the Kaiser Student Health Plan, you can do so during the Open Enrollment Period.

(Please note: My health manager features on kp.org may vary from region to region. This means you may not be able to use the same online features at school that you're accustomed to using at home if you live in a different region.)

Enrolling

How do I enroll online?
July 1–August 31, 2009 Kaiser staff will be available to assist Mills students with the enrollment process and information about the process will be available to eligible students before the Open Enrollment Period.

When do I need to enroll?
If you want to enroll in the Kaiser Student Health Plan, you need to enroll during the Open Enrollment Period at the beginning of the fall 2009 semester. July 1 through August 31, 2009 will be the fall 2009 Open Enrollment Period for eligible Mills students. Continuing students will not need to re-enroll for the spring 2010 semester;  however, students can choose to waive coverage for the spring 2010 semester (during the Open Enrollment Period for spring 2010) if they have comparable coverage.

If you transfer to Mills mid-year or return after being away from the College, you must enroll during the Open Enrollment Period for the semester in which you are scheduled to start classes.

There will be an Open Enrollment period for each fall semester, and students continuing into the spring semester of that year will not need to re-enroll or waive for spring unless they have a change in coverage.

Waiving coverage

Eligible students will be able to waive coverage only if they are able to show comparable coverage through another insurance policy. Requests for waiver of Kaiser coverage will be reviewed to determine that comparable coverage is in place.

How do I waive coverage online?
During the Open Enrollment Periods you can use the StudentNet website (available to Mills students on July 1, 2009).

Changing an enrollment or waiver

How do I make changes to the enrollment I already submitted?
Sign on to the StudentNet website after July 1  but before August 31  and click the “Enroll now” tab. The information you entered will appear. Make changes, then save.

How do I make changes to the waiver I already submitted?
Sign on to the StudentNet website after July 1 but before August 31 and click the “Waive coverage” tab, verify your eligibility, and make changes to the information you entered.

If I waive insurance because I have comparable coverage, and then lose my coverage, what do I need to do?
If you waive using StudentNet and then lose your coverage, you must either have another comparable insurance in place within 30 days, or you can enroll in the Kaiser Insurance Plan and your fee will be prorated based on the day you enroll.

If you waive using StudentNet and Mills becomes aware that your insurance has lapsed or that your new insurance is not comparable, you will be immediately charged a prorated fee for the Kaiser Insurance Plan and you must enroll using StudnetNet immediately.

Your StudentNet profile

What is a student profile, and how do I create one?
You will create your student profile when you enroll. You will need it to sign on to StudentNet and to enroll for coverage under the Kaiser Student Health Plan.

How do I sign on?
Information about signing up for the Kaiser Student Health Plan will be available on the Mills College website before the Open Enrollment Period.

How do I change my password?
Once you have created a profile, you will be able to sign on to StudentNet and click the "Change your password" link on the "Welcome back" page that appears.

What do I do if I think my account has been used without my permission?
Contact Kaiser Permanente Web Support at 800.556.7677 (toll free),  Monday through Friday, 6 am to 7 pm Pacific Time or Saturday and Sunday, 7 am to 3 pm Pacific Time, excluding major holidays.

I forgot my password. Now what?
Click "Forgot password?" on the StudentNet sign-on screen. Fill in the form, and Kaiser will help you reset your password online.

This FAQ list will be updated as further information becomes available. Please check back periodically for new information.