CUNY Graduate Center

Student Health Insurance

and Selected Resources:

A Guide

The information within is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be an exhaustive review or to endorse, recommend, or otherwise favor any given health insurance plan or health resource option over another. Questions about health insurance or the contents of this guide should be addressed to Ellen Zitani (ezitani@gc.cuny.edu) or Elise Perram (eperram@gc.cuny.edu) in the Office of Student Affairs.

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

August 2008

Table of Contents

Section A: General Information

Introduction

Email from President Kelly

Message from Chancellor Goldstein

Note on General Costs for Insurance Coverage

How do I choose a Health Plan?

Things to consider while selecting a health insurance plan:

Health Insurance Plan Comparison Worksheet

The Graduate Center Wellness Center

Psychological Counseling and Adult Development Center

Section B: Public and State Sponsored Health Insurance Programs

Definitions

State Sponsored Programs

Medicaid

Family Health Plus

Child Health Plus

Healthy NY

Dental Plans and State Sponsored and Public Programs

International and Visiting Fellows and Public Programs

Student Income and Publicly Funded Programs

Enrollment Facilitators for Public and State Sponsored Programs

Section C: Affiliated or Group Insurance Policies

General Information on Affiliated or Group Insurance Policies

Some Advice on How to Chose a Plan

CUNY Review of Insurance Policies

The CUNY GHI Program for Domestic and International Students

Domestic Partners and GHI

PSC-CUNY Adjunct Health Coverage

COBRA and the PSC Health Insurance

The PSC and the New NYSHIP Program

The American College Association Insurance Plan

International Students and the ACSA

Coinsurance and the ACSA

National Association of Graduate-Professional Students

NAGPS and Coinsurance

Section D: International Student and International Visitor Plans

International Student and Exchange Visitor Insurance Chart

Section E: Commercially Rated and Membership Organizations

Commercially Rated Programs

Introduction to HMOs, POS, and EPO

Some Rates for Commercially rated HMO and POS Plans

Membership Organizations

The Workmen’s Circle

The International Women’s Writing Guild

Freelancer’s Union

Section F: Dental Plans

Student Rated Plan: The Stu-Dent Plan

Commercial Plans

Community Dental Clinics

Section G: Community Vision Clinics and Commercial Vision Programs

Community Vision Clinics

Commercial Vision Programs

Section H: Prescription Drug Information

Section I: Local Health Clinics and Hospitals

Lists of Low-Cost or Free Clincs

Local health Care Clinics

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE AND

SELECTED RESOURCES: A GUIDE

Section A – GENERAL INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

This guide to student health insurance and selected health resources is prepared by the Office of The Vice President for Student Affairs solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be an exhaustive review or to endorse, recommend, or otherwise favor any given health insurance plan or health resource option over another. It is prepared to aid you in understanding the health insurance marketplace as you research the correct options for yourself and, as applicable, for partners and children. In addition to researching the options described in this guide, if you or your partner is employed, you should inquire about insurance coverage provided by the employer; and explore any group insurance plans offered through professional, alumni, and fraternal associations of which you may be a member.

The following is a message from President Kelly regarding the upcoming NYSHIP insurance for selected categories of Graduate Center student employees. Please note that until this program is implemented, Graduate Center students continue to procure their own health insurance. Therefore, the remainder of the information in this guide is designed to help you find insurance that will best suit you and your family’s needs.

An email from Graduate Center President, William Kelly:

The following communication regarding the state of health insurance for selected categories of Graduate Center student employees was sent to the Graduate Center Community on July 23, 2008:

Dear Friends,

On Monday, July 21, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees unanimously and enthusiastically approved a resolution authorizing CUNY’s participation in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP). As you know from my earlier message, this approval was necessary before we could begin to enroll doctoral students employed at the university in the NYSHIP program. The Board’s action, in conjunction with a parallel agreement by the PSC, moves us another step closer to our goal. We will now focus our efforts on working with NYSHIP to expedite the enrollment of eligible students. I will, of course, keep you posted on our progress.

I would be remiss not to mention that the Board’s action came at no small cost. Until the state agrees to cover the substantial subsidy required by this program, the university has agreed to self-fund that expense. In an extremely difficult budget year, this new measure of support for doctoral education would be remarkable were it not entirely consistent with past practice. Five-year recruitment packages, tuition remission, and targeted faculty recruitment initiatives are only the most obvious investments Chancellor Matthew Goldstein has made in CUNY’s doctoral programs. We are once again in his debt.

Best wishes,

Bill Kelly

A message from the Chancellor, William Goldstein:

Sent to the CUNY Graduate Center Community sent July 23, 2008:

On July 21, the Executive Committee of the CUNY Board of Trustees approved three measures to enhance the quality of services offered to students at the University, from health benefits to improved technology. I am deeply grateful to the members of the Executive Committee and to all of those within the CUNY community whose diligent work and careful deliberations allowed these important measures to move forward.

The Executive Committee approved an agreement that will enable CUNY to participate in the state-sponsored Student Employee Health Plan (through the New York State Health Insurance Program) on behalf of its eligible doctoral students. In 2008-09, we expect that approximately 2,400 CUNY doctoral students who are employed as adjunct lecturers, adjunct instructors, adjunct college laboratory technicians, or non-teaching adjuncts will be eligible for the new health benefits. CUNY will pay 90 percent of the cost of individual coverage for doctoral students who elect to participate in the plan and 75 percent of the additional cost of dependent coverage for eligible dependents of doctoral students. I am delighted that the University can extend this important benefit to its doctoral students.

A Note on General Costs for Insurance Coverage:

Traditionally, insurance policy costs are based on claim usage within the population as determined by demographic factors like age and medical history. Students within specific age ranges are presumed to make either more or less use of their policies according to the age range into which they are grouped (with a median age selected). This is why student-rated policies are generally less expensive than most commercial policies not made available through an intermediary like CUNY or provided through an employer or otherwise subsidized, but in general they do not offer as many benefits as do the commercial policies. In addition, they sometimes employ an age-related, or payment-tier system (NAGPS does this; GHI does not). No matter what your age, if you are eligible for public-funded health programs that meet your particular needs, some may be less expensive than student-rated policies and may offer better benefits.

It is important to note that the costs of insurance policies are sometimes subject to change during the academic year by (usually) modest increments. In other words, the price for an insurance policy in September will most likely be lower than the price for the same policy in January. Also, in planning how to meet your needs for health insurance coverage, take into account that should the qualifying conditions for eligibility for a particular insurance plan end, the timing may be such that you do not immediately have another option for health insurance coverage. In other words, if you are a full-time student who might switch to part-time in 08-09, this might affect your coverage if you are enrolled in a student insurance plan.

How do I chose a health plan?

The information in this section is intended to aid you in the sometimes overwhelming process of selecting the insurance plan that best suits you and your family.

Things to consider while selecting a health insurance plan:

The following is intended to be used as a check-list that will help you consider the benefits offered by various health insurance plans. Because each plan is different, we encourage you to ask yourself these questions, as well as fill out the worksheet (4b) before making a final decision for you and/or your family. After looking through this booklet, use the following check-list and worksheet to compare your options.

Will you be eligible for the NYSHIP program once it is in place?

If you are an adjunct or a fellow teaching or working at one of the CUNY schools, you may be eligible in the future for the new NYSHIP insurance.
Therefore, you may want to purchase insurance on a monthly basis now, until the NYSHIP plan is in place.
If you purchase a yearly plan now (such as NAGPS or paying in full for GHI), you may end up over-paying.

Can you get insurance from an association you belong to? Many of the following offer health insurance:

o Alumni Associations

o Fraternities and Sororities

o Workers or Professional Organizations

Honor Societies
Freelancers Union (see Section E of this guide)

Public or Private Health Insurance?

o Does your monthly income qualify you for Family Health Plus or Healthy New York? (See Section B of this Guide)

o Healthy New York’s costs can be similar to private plans or student plans such as GHI – be sure to weigh the benefits and restrictions of each before choosing.

o Remember that Healthy NY does not cover mental health. GHI does cover mental health, but does not include prescription drug coverage. So individuals who need psychiatric care should weigh the costs of both programs carefully and choose based on the cost of their prescriptions and doctor’s visits.

Are you aware of all of the costs associated with the plan?

o Monthly premiums

o Deductibles*

o Co-pays

o Co-insurance**

Prescriptions

HMO or PPO?

o HMO’s typically have lower premiums, but less choice of medical providers (patients must remain in-network for health care)

o PPO’s provide greater choice of providers, but may have higher premiums

Is your doctor and hospital in the network?

o Each provider has a different network. Be sure to check their websites for your preferred medical professionals and hospitals.

Does the plan cover your specific medical needs or conditions? The following services may not be covered:

o Pre-existing Conditions

o Prescription Drugs

o Chiropractic

o Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation

o Mental Health

o Holistic and Wellness Services

o Nutrition

o Podiatry

o Long-Term Care

o Ambulance

o Emergency Room Visits

o In-Patient Hospital Care

o Out-Patient Hospital Care

o Annual Doctor’s Visits

Is the insurance for you only? Or do you need a plan for you, your spouse/partner and/or your child(ren)?

o The costs change dramatically if you are considering a plan that includes your spouse/partner and/or child(ren).

o Remember that even if you select a private insurance for yourself, you may still be eligible to enroll your child(ren) in Child Health Plus (See Section B of this guide).

o Domestic partner coverage varies depending on provider. Be sure to find out if the program you select will insure your partner too.

Health Insurance Plan Comparison Worksheet:

You may want to use this worksheet to help you compare plans in this booklet, or plans that are available to you through other means such as alumni associations, professional organizations, honor societies, etc.

Directions: Fill in the names of the insurance plans that you are considering in the top row. Answer the questions for each plan in the column below where you wrote the plan name. Add up the total costs at the bottom to see what your annual estimate would be. You will have to estimate the cost of your co-pays, co-insurance and prescriptions. It is best to do an annual estimate, because some costs (such as co-insurance, co-pays or prescriptions) are not incurred monthly.

Plan Names →
Do I meet the income requirement?
Does this plan include care for my specific medical needs?
Is my doctor in this network?
Annual Premium	$	$	$	$
Annual Deductibles*	$	$	$	$
Annual Optional Major Medical	$	$	$	$
Annual Co-Pays (estimate)	$	$	$	$
Annual Co-Insurance** (estimate)	$	$	$	$
Annual Prescriptions (estimate)	$	$	$	$
Total Annual Cost	$	$	$	$

*Not all insurance plans have annual deductibles. An annual deductible is the amount you must spend on medical services before your insurance company will begin to pay. For example, NAGPS’ low payment cost option has a $500 deductible you must meet before they begin to pay for their share of the co-insurance.

** Co-insurance is when the insurer and the insured share the cost (usually an 80%/20% split) after the deductible has been met. Some insurance plans, such as NAGPS, have this as an option in order to provide lower monthly premiums. For example, if you had a hospital bill of $20,000 – you would be responsible for $4,000 and the insurance company would be responsible for $16,000.

The Graduate Center Wellness Center:

One set of health resources available to registered Graduate Center students, whether their academic programs are based at the Graduate Center building or largely at one of the other City University of New York campuses, is the Graduate Center Wellness Center, which consists of Student Health Services and The Psychological Counseling and Adult Development Center. Their services are described below.

THE GRADUATE CENTER WELLNESS CENTER: Room 6422.

212-817-7020

Wellness@gc.cuny.edu

http://web.gc.cuny.edu/wellness/index.html

Wellness Center / Student Health Services is directed by a Nurse Practitioner, Adraenne Bowe who will begin seeing student-patients on August 25, 2008. This on-site students’ health services office is for all enrolled Graduate Center students paying GC student activity fees. Student Health Services offers a variety of services, including episodic treatment for physical ailments; health screenings; gynecological exams, male health exams, and other physical exams; birth control information; laboratory services (with a laboratory fee required); and confidential HIV testing and counseling. Virtually all services except for laboratory fees and some immunizations and vaccinations are free. Student Health Services also provides referrals to private doctors and clinics and conducts workshops (e.g., CPR, stress management, breast care) and the annual health fair. Outside laboratory fees are not free but may be partially covered by health insurance or by subsidies from the student government, the Doctoral Students’ Council (DSC). Any Graduate Center student, insured or not, is welcome to make an appointment at the Wellness Center.

Wellness Center / The Psychological Counseling and Adult Development Center:

The Psychological Counseling and Adult Development Center is directed by Dr. Daniel Rothenberg, Ph.D., and staffed by licensed clinical psychologists as well as by clinicians-in-training. The center offers short-term counseling, psychotherapy, and consultation and referral services to all enrolled Graduate Center students paying GC student activity fees. Services are free of charge and are offered on a confidential non-emergency basis, by appointment. In addition to availability during times of acute emotional distress, the counseling center is a resource for individuals seeking to mobilize creative strengths, acquire self-understanding, and explore alternative courses of action. Services and activities of the center include dissertation completion counseling, crisis intervention, counseling and referral for alcohol and drug problems, HIV counseling; stress management and relaxation counseling; and seminars and workshops that focus on the challenges of graduate student life and dissertation completion and on issues of personal transition and growth.

Section B

PUBLIC AND STATE SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS

Definitions:

There are three basic types of health insurance available: publicly funded (e.g., Medicaid) or state sponsored (e.g., Healthy New York, Family Health Plus), affiliated or group (e.g., GHI, NAGPS, PSC Group Insurance), and individual (see section E of this guide). Public health insurance is low-cost or free; affiliated or group health insurance mandates that insured persons belong to a specific group or organization and individual plans are available for anyone to purchase. Open-market individual insurance tends to be very expensive, as individuals do not have the power of a group to negotiate their premium rates.

State Sponsored Insurance Programs:

These are free or low-cost health insurance for individuals who are citizens or legal residents of the United States and meet certain income guidelines. Virtually all children in New York qualify, regardless of income or immigration status; adults must meet income requirements to qualify for coverage. State Sponsored programs do not recognize domestic partnerships, but individual coverage for two adults, if qualified, may cost less than some group plans that do recognize domestic partnerships or offer plans for married couples.

Five different options are currently available in New York: Medicaid, Child Health Plus (CHP A and CHP B), Family Health Plus, Healthy New York and the Medicaid Buy-in program for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD). All five programs are designed for families and adults who cannot afford health insurance and whose incomes are below a certain level, except for ChildHealth Plus, which is designed to insure every child living in the state, regardless of their parents’ income.

See http://www.nyc.gov/html/hia/html/public_insurance/public_insurance.shtml for a list of enrollment and counseling services see to help you determine eligibility. You can pre-screen for public and private health insurance at https://a069-webapps3.nyc.gov/health/mainpage.htm.

Medicaid:

For individuals who meet certain requirements of income, resource, age, or disability. For information about eligibility and applications call 1-877-472-8411 or visit their website at http://www.health.state.ny.us/health_care/medicaid/index.htm. The city also has enrollment counselors at the New York Medicaid CHOICE Helpline at 1-800-505-5678. Residents of the Five Boroughs may also call 311 for more information.

Family Health Plus:

This is a program that makes comprehensive health insurance available at no cost to lower-income, uninsured adults who do not have employer-sponsored coverage and are not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. For more information call 1-877- 934-7587 or see www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/fhplus/index.htm and http://www.health.state.ny.us/health_care/.

Family Health Plus is offered by private HMO’s, so it may be wise to consult with your primary care physician before choosing a plan. For those without a primary care physician, enrollment facilitators and local social services district offices will help individuals to enroll and choose a health plan service provider (a variety are available in all boroughs and through a variety of insurance companies). For more information and to find an enrollment facilitator, call 311.

For eligibility for Family Health Plus see table below:

Family Size	Family Health Plus: Maximum Gross Annual Income Guide Effective April 1, 2008
Family Size	Yearly Income	Monthly Income	Weekly Income
Single Adult	$10,400	$867	$200
Couples with No Children	$14,000	$1,167	$269
Family Size 2*	$21,000	$1,750	$404
Family Size 3*	$26,400	$2,200	$507
Family Size 4*	$31,800	$2,650	$611
Family Size 5*	$37,200	$3,100	$715
For each additional person add:*	+$5,400	+$ 450	+$103

Current data for the above table can be found at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/fhplus/who_can_join.htm#familysizex .

Child Health Plus:

This option provides health coverage to uninsured children up to the age of 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid. Premiums are on a sliding fee schedule according to family income. Parents can enroll their children in Child Health Plus and insure themselves separately if they do not qualify for public insurance. For further information, visit http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus/index.htm or call 1-800-698-4543.

There is no monthly premium for families whose income is less than 1.6 times the poverty level. That's about $541 a week for a three-person family, about $652 a week for a family of four. Families with somewhat higher incomes pay a monthly premium of $9, $15, $20, $30, or $40 per child per month, depending on their income and family size. For larger families, the monthly fee is capped at three children. If the family's income is more than 4 times the poverty level, they pay the full monthly premium charged by the health plan. There are no co-payments for services under Child Health Plus, so you don't have to pay anything when your child receives care through these plans.

Child Health Plus Final 2008 Family Contributions by Income and Household Size For Enrollment Effective On or After 9/1/2008
Family Contributions	Monthly Income by Family Size*
Family Contributions	1	2	3	4	5**	Each additional person, add:
Free Insurance	$1,386	$1,866	$2,346	$2,826	$3,306	$480
$9 per Child per Month (Max of $27 per family)	$1,924	$2,590	$3,256	$3,922	$4,588	$666
$15 per Child per Month (Max of $45 per family)	$2,167	$2,917	$3,667	$4,417	$5,167	$750
$20 per Child per Month (Maximum of $60 per family)	$2,600	$3,500	$4,400	$5,300	$6,200	$900
$30 per Child per Month (Max of $120 per family)	$3,034	$4,084	$5,134	$6,184	$7,234	$1,050
$40 per Child per Month (Max of $120 per family)	$3,467	$4,667	$5,867	$7,067	$8,267	$1,200
Full Premium per child per Month	Over $3,467	Over $4,667	Over $5,867	Over $7,067	Over $8,267

* Pregnant women count as two.

**For families with more than 5 children, see the website for income limits.

Above data can be found at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus/who_is_eligible.htm. The complete chart on the website lists monthly income for families with up to 8 children.

Healthy New York:

Reduced-cost health insurance is available under the Healthy NY program to certain working uninsured individuals. In order to participate, you must meet certain eligibility criteria:

· Your employer does not currently provide you with health insurance.

· Your gross (pre-tax) household income meets the income guidelines of the program.

· You have not had health insurance in effect for the twelve-month period preceding application or have lost that coverage due to a qualifying event (loss of employment, death of a family member, change to a new employer, change of residence, discontinuation of a group health plan, termination or cancellation of COBRA coverage, divorce, loss of eligibility for group health insurance coverage).

Healthy NY Maximum Income Requirements as of August 2008
Family Size*	Monthly Household Income
1	Up to $2,167
2	Up to $2,917
3	Up to $3,667
4	Up to $4,417
5	Up to $5,167
Each additional person	Add $750

Data for this table can be found at: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hnyeci.htm.

*For purposes of counting your household size, count yourself, your spouse if your spouse lives with you, and dependent children, whether they live with you or not. Count all of these people, even if you are not going to include them on your Healthy NY policy. Do not count parents, roommates, or those not dependent on you for support.

Mid-year fluctuations in household income and employment status will not result in termination of your Healthy NY coverage. Proof of income will be required annually when an enrollee recertifies.

All HMO’s offer the same two benefit packages, one with prescription drug coverage and one without prescription drug coverage. Benefits are mandated, but premiums are unregulated and each HMO has its own network. You may therefore want to shop and compare among the different insurers. Mid-year fluctuations in household income and employment status will not result in termination of your Healthy NY coverage. The statute provides only for an annual recertification process. Qualified individuals are enrolled on the 20^th of each month and co-pays are $20. Also, Healthy NY offers rates for married couples (but not to domestic partners), while most non-group plans do not. Although there are some limitations of benefits (no mental health coverage) this program may be a good option. For further information go to www.HealthyNY.com.

For a complete list of prices and HMO’s available in your county visit http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hnyr.htm. A description of Healthy NY benefits is at www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hnybp.htm.

Healthy NY’s High Deductible Health Plans:

A high deductible health plan (HDHP) is a health insurance policy that requires the enrollee to pay for most medical expenses up to a certain dollar amount before the insurance policy begins to cover them. The 2008 deductible amounts are $1,150 for single coverage and $2,300 for family coverage. These amounts are adjusted annually for inflation.

You can access certain preventive services before you have met the deductible. In the Healthy NY program, these benefits include well-child and routine prenatal care, prostate cancer screening, mammography, cervical cytology, and adult physicals and immunizations. Copayments will still apply to these services. Money spent on copayments for preventive services do not count towards the deductible.

Money spent on medical expenses that are not covered by the HDHP will not be counted towards the plan deductible.

For more information on the High Deductible Health Plans from Healthy NY see: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hnyhdhp.htm.

An Example of Two (not all) Providers and Costs for Healthy NY:

For a comprehensive list of providers and cost for NY region: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/rates/xml/ny.xml.

Empire Blue Cross Healthy New York Monthly Premiums for the New York Region. Effective January 1, 2008.
Standard Plan	With Drug Benefits	Without Drug Benefits
Individual	$263.86	$232.61
Husband/Wife	$527.72	$465.22
Parent & Child(ren)	$474.95	$418.70
Family	$791.58	$697.83
High Deductible Health Plan	With Drug Benefits	Without Drug Benefits
Individual	$223.80	$181.93
Husband/Wife	$447.60	$363.86
Parent & Child(ren)	$402.84	$327.47
Family	$671.40	$545.79

Please note that premium rates are subject to change.

Rates are for Metro New York Region.

Data for the above table may be found at: http://www.empireblue.com/member/noapplication/f3/s2/t4/pw_ad067635.pdf.

Coverage Type	Oxford Healthy NY (monthly premiums 2008)
Coverage Type	w/drugs	w/o drugs	*HDHP w/ drugs**	HDHP w/out drugs
Individual	$265.03	$233.25	$207.82	$182.88
Two Adult	$583.07	$513.15	$457.20	$402.34
Parent & Child(ren)	$503.56	$443.18	$394.86	$347.47
Family	$840.15	$739.40	$658.79	$579.73

Data for the above table may be found at: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/rates/xml/ny.xml .

*HDHP stands for High Deductible Health Plan

Dental Plans and State Sponsored and Public Programs:

Most State Sponsored or Public insurance programs do not include dental insurance. See Section F of this guide for information on finding affordable and comprehensive dental coverage.

Internationals and Visiting Fellows (postdoctoral scholars) and Public Programs:

International or Visiting Fellows are most likely not eligible for Public or State Sponsored health insurance. A number of policies are available specifically for international students and visiting postdoctoral scholars; these may be used by American citizens and permanent residents when they are traveling, studying, or planning research abroad. (See Section D in this guide.) Visiting postdoctoral scholars are eligible to use some of these plans and must call the companies individually.

Information on student income and publicly funded health insurance:

Enrollment facilitators may be unfamiliar with how student income from fellowships and student loans are counted toward income eligibility requirements. The Children’s Aid Society (see below), however, is one facilitator familiar with student eligibility issues. Students’ tuition and fee awards, or the part of an award designated for tuition and fees, as well as tuition and fee amounts deducted from awards by CUNY before disbursement to a student, are not generally counted toward income when determining eligibility. Questions about classification of awards may be directed to the Office of Financial Aid. Note that eligibility for publicly funded healthcare is dependent upon your current earning status and assets. If, therefore, you are a student with a fellowship who may previously have been employed but are not currently employed, your application will be based on your fellowship stipend and/or assets, not on your expectation of possible future employment and earnings. Enrollees in either Family Health Plus or Healthy New York do not have to re-apply for a year. If you are a student new to New York, you would probably want to sign up immediately after becoming a student and meeting the requirement of being a New York State resident living in either New York City or Long Island. Also, keep in mind that if you are without coverage for more than 60 days, pre-existing conditions may not be covered.

Enrollment Facilitators for Public and State Sponsored Programs:

An enrollment facilitator is a person who can help you negotiate the web of state and public health insurance programs.

The Children’s Aid Society’s Health Care Access Program:

This program is not limited to aiding children. The society is dedicated to assisting low-income New Yorkers to enroll in the free or low-cost health insurance programs that are provided by state and local agencies, namely Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus. The program is funded by the New York Department of Health and works closely with the Mayor’s Office of Health Insurance Access (MOHIA). The Children’s Aid Society is a non-profit organization that assists clients in the application process and facilitates their choice from among the authorized health plans according to what suits their needs. In addition, the organization does troubleshooting to assist clients until they receive their insurance card. For further information call the Health Care Access Program (HCAP) office at (212) 503-6804 or see http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/healthandcounseling/hcap.

Child Health Now Coalition provides information for families about how to enroll their children in New York State’s health insurance programs. For information please call the Children’s Defense Fund at 212-697-2323 or visit http://www.cdfny.org/Issues/CDFIssues_CHN.htm.

Section C

DETAILS OF AFFILIATED OR GROUP INSURANCE POLICIES

General Information on Affiliated or Group Insurance Policies:

Definitions:

An affiliated or group insurance policy is one that you can join because you are a member of a certain group. In this section there is information on the GHI student plan, the NAGPS student plan and the PSC insurance for some Adjuncts. If these plans do not fit your budget or needs, consider what other groups you belong to. Perhaps you can join the Freelancer’s Union, belong to a fraternity or sorority, can get insurance through an honor society or a partner or spouse’s affiliation or employment.

Insurance Policy Applications

Applications for some of the following policies will be available in public areas near or within the Student Affairs office (Rm. 7301), the International Students office (Rm. 7200), and at the Wellness Center (Rm. 6422). Questions about health insurance not addressed by company brochures or company representatives may be addressed to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at 212-817-7400. Please ask for Elise Perram or Ellen Zitani. Claim forms are generally not necessary or may be obtained from the insurance company if needed. The brochures usually cover most questions that arise.

The Graduate Center does not provide health insurance:

The Graduate Center does not provide the insurance coverage, and is not responsible for the policies or actions of the insurance companies. Students are not restricted to using any of the listed policies, but this list of companies should give students several practical examples of what is available in the marketplace. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the terms of the policies and, when in doubt, to phone the company (or their representative). Students will be dealing directly with their own insurance company after filling out application forms and sending these to the company of choice. General questions may be addressed to the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs at 212-817-7400 (ask for Elise Perram or Ellen Zitani). Specific questions about benefits, enrollment, payments, eligibility, etc. should be directed to the Insurance Companies.

Some Advice on How to Choose a Plan:

If you qualify for a public plan (Section B), you may find that these plans are the most cost-effective and most comprehensive (mainly because they offer prescription drug coverage, include payment for full hospitalization and are less-expensive) available to you. Determine whether you and/or your children/family members qualify; if you do, it may be your best option.

If you don’t qualify for a publicly funded program, you may consider having your children enroll in Child Health Plus (Section B) and selecting a group or affiliated plan for yourself (this section). Use the worksheet at the beginning of this booklet (Section A) to help you compare your options. It is important to select a plan that best meets your budget and medical needs.

If you remain uninsured or under-insured (for example if you use a co-insurance plan such as NAGPS; this section), community health clinics (see Section H) or the Wellness Center (see Section A) can provide basic affordable care. Many of them offer services to the uninsured that are based on your income (the sliding scale tends to begin around $30/visit). Remember: without insurance you would be without coverage for hospitalization. Hospitalization fees can exceed the thousands in less than a day, depending on care. Therefore it is advised to have a policy that will minimally cover your hospital costs (Healthy NY’s Tradition Plus Hospitalization Only policy is popular; see Section A). It is often possible to enroll your child(ren) in Child Health Plus (virtually all children in the state qualify) and enroll yourself and your partner in a different plan, even if as a family you don’t qualify for a public program. Keep in mind that couples may be able to get lower premiums with plans that have a “couples” rather than just a “family” rate. (All plans offer individual and family coverage, only some offer coverage for couples.)

CUNY Review of Insurance Policies

The Central Office of The City University of New York (CUNY) reviews the policies from Group Health Incorporated (GHI) and the New York University (NYU) dental plan. International policies are usually reviewed by NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Students Advisors). The NAGPS (National Association of Graduate-Professional Students) plan is reviewed by the Student Resources Group. It is imperative, however, that any plan be carefully reviewed by each student and purchased on the basis of both one's health history and one's budget. (N. B.: This review information is provided as a service but is not intended to endorse particular choices or limit students’ consideration to the reviewed policies and agencies.)

For International Students – Information on Group or Affiliated Plans

Please note that, of the plans available for your review, only two plans offer "student" rates to both U.S. domestics (citizens and permanent residents) and to international students. One is the GHI Student Policy (negotiated by CUNY as an option that accepts insurance applicants on the basis of student status for its students), which is available for all new and returning matriculated students who are taking six or more credits and who wish to purchase insurance near, on, or after its anticipated beginning dates. The other domestic plan is The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS) Insurance sponsored by Student Resources Group. See below for more information on both of these plans.

The CUNY GHI Student-rated Policy for Domestic and International Students:

The GHI Program is an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) for matriculated students taking six or more credits. Any insured must choose a health provider/doctor from within an approved network of doctors. Books of providers and cd-ROMS with the lists of participating GHI doctors are available in the Office of Student Affairs and the Wellness Center; these are made available by GHI on a first-come, first-served basis. The lists are always changing as doctors are added or dropped from the list during the year. For an up-to-date list of doctors and hospitals in the GHI network see: http://www.ghi.com/default.aspx?page=350.

To get to this website go to www.ghi.com. Click on the “Members” tab. Look to the right for the column titled, “Member Resources”. Click on “City, State & Federal Employees CUNY Students, MTA-NYC Transit”. Under “City, State and Federal Members” click on “GHI/CUNY Student Health Insurance Program.” That will bring you to: http://www.ghi.com/default.aspx?page=350. This page has the benefits and exclusions information, the cost of the insurance and the application.

If the application is not updated for the 2008-09 school year yet, you may use the older application, but you must change the date at the bottom to read “2008” and also know that the premiums have gone up (the 2008-09 premiums are listed below).

GHI student policies include coverage for 30 days of in-patient mental health care and 20 visits of outpatient mental health care per calendar year. Please note that students new to the GHI Program will not have pre-existing condition coverage, as there is an eleven-month waiting period (unless the student has been insured within 60 days of ending another insurance program).

All applicants are now required to obtain from the Registrar’s Office of their home college a seal/stamp to be affixed to the revised GHI application form.

For those registering very close to the deadline for this plan (on the last eligibility day, for instance), applications may be hand-delivered to GHI at 441 9th Avenue (between 34th and 35th streets) to the attention of Ms. Evelyn Marzan-Morales to help meet deadline date emergencies.

Rates for 2008-09

Individual: $ 665.10 per quarter $ 2,660.40 per year

Family: $ 1,895.58 per quarter $ 7,582.32 per year

Note: These rates do not include any prescription drug coverage.

$27 co-payment per home and office visit; must use GHI doctor network. Students may now pay for GHI online with Autopay. Once you submit your application, GHI will send you an ID card and an invoice. Your insurance IS NOT VALID until GHI receives payment for your premium. If you receive an ID card, but have not paid, you are not insured.

The GHI Student Health Program brochure located at: http://www.ghi.com/default.aspx?page=350 provides information on enrollment documentation for spouses, domestic partners, and children.

For questions directly related to the CUNY GHI program, contact Michael Verdino at 646.344.7279 or at michael.verdino@mail.cuny.edu. For GHI Customer Service call 212.501.4444. General information is also available at http://www.ghi.com/default.aspx?page=350.

Open Enrollment:

Open Enrollment is between September 1 and October 31, 2008. You cannot apply for GHI after Open Enrollment. There will be another Open Enrollment period in the Spring of 2009.

Domestic Partners and GHI:

GHI does insure domestic partners. According to GHI, domestic partners are defined as: “two people, both of whom are eighteen years of age or older, neither of whom is married or related by blood in a manner that would bar her or his marriage in New York State, who have a close and committed personal relationship, who live together and have been living together on a continuous basis.” A domestic partner may be eligible to receive health care services as dependent under your Certificate of Insurance. Not all groups provide coverage for domestic partners. Therefore, please review the amendments or riders to your Certificate in order to determine if coverage for a domestic partner is available. To enroll your domestic partner, please bring a copy of your City of New York Certificate of Domestic Partnership, a statement of financial interdependence, acceptable supporting documents, and your completed application to your Student Health Office. (Remember to bring originals and two photocopies of each document.) Do not send these materials to GHI. For more information on GHI and domestic partner enrollment visit: http://www.ghi.com/default.aspx?page=227#dpartner.

PSC-CUNY Adjunct Health Coverage:

The PSC pamphlet “CUNY Adjuncts: Your Rights, Your Benefits” (at http://www.psc-cuny.org/adjunctpamphlet.htm; currently being revised) offers the following information regarding group health insurance options (HIP or Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO) for teaching and non-teaching CUNY adjuncts (except GTFs and Chancellor’s Fellows):

Adjuncts who are PSC members have the benefit of health insurance beginning in the third consecutive semester of teaching so long as one teaches six or more hours CUNY-wide in that semester and has taught one or more courses during the first two semesters; non-teaching adjuncts must work ten hours or more a week for one year on campus to be eligible. Teaching and non-teaching adjunct work at CUNY can also be combined to secure health insurance. Adjuncts retain this benefit as long as one teaches six hours or works ten non-teaching hours. Contact your Human Resources Office to apply.

Because the Research Foundation does not offer health insurance for adjuncts, if a Department needs to shift an adjunct to the Research Foundation payroll, the Department is obliged to make every effort to shift only an adjunct who is not covered by CUNY health insurance. For questions about health coverage call the Welfare Fund at 212-354-5230. You are also covered by Workers’ compensation for on-the-job injuries.

COBRA and the PSC Health Insurance:

If you lose your health insurance because you teach less than six hours a semester or work under ten non-teaching hours, you may maintain benefits for a period under COBRA, the federal law which allows you to pay for coverage yourself at group rates for 18 months. If after one semester you resume teaching six hours CUNY-wide or working ten non-teaching hours, the Welfare Fund will restore your health insurance. If you are ineligible for two or more semesters you must establish eligibility as you did initially.

Do not cancel any existing coverage until you have received official notification of coverage from the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund. For information regarding eligibility, please see the Human Resources Director at the college(s) where you are employed. If you are adjuncting at more than one college, the Human Resources Officer at each school must certify your eligibility. Certification and applications must be submitted together in the request for coverage.

The PSC and the New NYSHIP program:

The above information may not apply to students from the Graduate Center at some point during the 2008/09 school year due to the efforts to provide health insurance through the NYSHIP plan to graduate students who teach for CUNY. See the messages from Chancellor Goldstein and President Kelly in section A of this guide for more information about the new program.

The American College Association Insurance Plan:

The American College Association Insurance Plan is another student-rated policy. Information on this policy is available via their website at www.acsa.com. Students must pay $18 annual dues to the ACSA to enroll. Students may enroll online at www.acsa.com or by calling 1-888-526-2272 or 1-800-793-0281. Each student eligible for enrollment has a choice of either the High Option or Low Option plan. The High Option Plan has higher benefits than the Low Option Plan and it has a higher premium. The High Option Plan has a $100 deductible (per insured person and per policy year) with a maximum benefit of $50,000 (for each injury or sickness). The Low Option Plan has a $150 deductible with a maximum benefit of $25,000. To enroll in these plans, you must pay $18 annual dues to the ACSA.

International Students and ACSA:

International students who have applied for permanent residency are eligible under the High and Low Option Plans as long as they are taking the required number of credit hours.

Coinsurance and ACSA:

The ACSA high and low option plans are both “coinsurance” plans. This means that they cover 80% of the “usual and customary” charges for most services. Therefore, if you chose this plan, you should be aware that if you go to the doctor or hospital, you will have to pay at least 20% of the cost, plus the deductible.

The American College Association Insurance Plan Annual Rates for 2007-08
Plan Choice	Students age 24 & Under	Students age 25-29	Students age 30-40	Optional Major Medical
Low Option Plan	$675	$773	$1064	N/A
High Option Plan	$1149	$1457	$2907	$231

Data for the above chart can be found at www.acsa.com.

National Association of Graduate-Professional Students:

This plan, which is underwritten by United Health Care is available for post-doctoral grant holders as well as for enrolled students. This plan has domestic partner coverage, tiered rates by age (under and over 35) and has a basic deductible (per insured person per policy year) of $200 for the high option plan or $500 for the low option plan per policy year. The optional major medical benefit ($250,000 limit for each accident or sickness per year) is subject to an additional premium charge, which is noted on the brochure. There is coverage for psychotherapy, normal maternity and childbirth, and for complications of pregnancy -- but please check the brochure for lists of benefits and exclusions if you have special needs for coverage. The High Option Plan for NAGPS does cover 80% of prescription drug costs up to a $500 annual maximum. General information and on-line enrollment is available at https://www.uhcsr.com/SelfServiceSupport/Students/CollegeHome.asp. Otherwise, refer to your NAGPS brochure for further details. Additional details on these two options are below.

NAGPS and Coinsurance:

Please note, that like the American College Association Insurance Plan, NAGPS is a “co-insurance” plan. This means that after you meet the deductible, they will pay a 80% of most “usual and customary charges” or of the “preferred allowance” – including those for hospitalization. This means that if your care costs $20,000 in the hospital, they might pay $16,000 and you will have to pay at least $4,000. Please keep this in mind when deciding if a co-insurance program is right for you and your family.

The rates for NAGPS are located on the following page.

National Association of Graduate-Professional Students 2008 Premiums
Plan Choice	High Payment Cost Option with $200 deductible (annual premiums)	Major Medical additional charge	Low Payment Cost Option with $500 deductible (annual premiums)	Low Payment Optional Major Medical
Students Age 35 & Under	$1,542	$220	$677	$143
Students Age 35 & Older	$2,299	$220	$971	$143
Student and Spouse/Domestic Partner Age 35 & Under	$4,960	$440	$2,539	$286
Student and Spouse/Domestic Parnter Age 35 & Over	$7,371	$440	$3,735	$286
Student (age 35 & under) & Children	$4,273	$641	$2,011	$432
Student (age 35 & older) & Children	$5,030	$641	$2,305	$432
Student,Spouse (age 35 & under) & Children	$7,691	$861	$3,873	$575
Student, Spouse (age 35 & over) & Children	$10,102	$861	$5,069	$575

Data for this table was taken from: https://www.uhcsr.com/SelfServiceSupport/Students/CollegeStudents.aspx.

For these options, enrollment is activated from the day the company enters your name into the computer as paid. All fees are payable on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual schedule. Only students residing in the State of New York are eligible. Claims or coverage questions are to be directed to Betsy Thompson at 1-800-237-0903, extension 6227.

Section D

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PLANS

These plans are written specifically for international students or visitors studying, doing research, or on educational business in the United States. A few are for U.S. students who are going to be living or studying abroad. For more information, consult with Mr. Douglas Ewing or Mr. Paul Croser at 212-817-7490. Mr. Ewing developed the following comparison chart on International Student and Exchange Visitor Insurance which is also available at the International Students office, Room 7200.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR INSURANCE

THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The U.S. Department of State requires that all Exchange Visitors (J-1 Status) maintain insurance for themselves and their dependents while in the United States. Students in F-1 status are strongly urged to maintain insurance. This chart is for informational purposes only. The Graduate School and University Center bears no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this information. For complete details about each policy, contact the insurance company directly or see the brochure. The most up-to-date information will be available on each company’s web site.

COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF SELECTED POLICY BENEFITS – 2008-2009

NAME OF

INSURANCE

POLICY

And

PLAN

ADMINISTRATOR

website URL

MONTHLY

PREMIUMS

3-Month Minimum Required

(Premiums

by Age Range.

DEDUCTIBLES

& STUDENT COST

PER CLAIM

(1) = Deductible.

(2) = Deductible

with Health Service Referral

(3) = Amount you would pay for bills of $5,000

CO-INSURANCE &

MAJOR MEDICAL

COVERAGE

(Covers Usual,

Customary and

Reasonable Charges

after

payment of

Deductible.)

MEDICAL

EVACUATION

and

REPATRIATION

COVERAGE

J-1 Students

See Notes

MAXIMUM

BENEFIT

per injury or

illness

PC = Previous

Conditions

Covered After

(months)

FAMILY

COVERAGE

Monthly

Premium

Range

S = Spouse

C = Child

Compass Care

Compass Benefits

www.compassbenefit.com

2008-2009

To 23 $ 41

24-30 $ 70

31-40 $ 110

41-50 $ 199

(1) $ 100

(2) $ 50

(3) $ 1040

80% of first

$10,000,

then

100% up to

policy maximum

M.E. up to

$50,000

R. up to

$25,000

$250,000 (Stu.)

$50,000 (Dep.)

PC = two years.

S= $149

to $309

C = $ 89

US NetCare Essential

Gulf Insurance

www.usnetcare.com

2008-2009

16 - 25 $ 37

26 - 35 $ 49

36 - 50 $ 99

(1) $ 100

(2) $ 100

(3) $ 1080

Inside PPO Network

80% to $20,000

then 100% up to the maximum

M.E. up to

$20,000

R. up to

$15,000

$250,000

(Student only)

No pharmacy

PC = n/a.

S = n/a

No maternity

C = $52

Global Student USA

(Standard)

HTH

www.hthstudents.com

2008-2009

19-23 $ 38

24-30 $ 52

31-40 $ 75

41-50 $ 143

(1) $ 100

(2) $ 50

(3) $ 1040

80% of first

$10,000,

then

100% up to

policy maximum.

M.E. up to

$50,000

R. up to

$15,000

$250,000 (Stu.)

$ 50,000 (Dep.)

PC = one year.

S=$ 174 to

$ 247

C=$ 84

Global Student USA

Preferred

HTH

www.hthstudents.com

2008-2009

19-23 $ 58

24-30 $ 73

31-40 $ 102

41-50 $ 175

(1) $ 100

(2) $ 50

(3) $ 50

100% of first

$5,000,

then

80% up to

policy maximum.

M.E. up to

$50,000

R. up to

$15,000

$250,000 (Stu.)

$50,000 (Dep.)

PC = one year.

S=$ 234 to

$ 409

C=$ 117

Compass

Silver

I.S.O. & AIG

www.isoa.org

2008-2009

To 23 $ 31

24-30 $ 85

31-40 $ 110

41-50 $ 120

(1) $ 100

(2) $ 50

(3) $ 50

100% after deduct

up to the maximum.

M.E. up to

$50,000

R. up to

$25,000

Lifetime

$150,000

Per Incident

$ 50,000

PC = one year.

S & C

Dependent

Rate =

$ 190 each

GHI/CUNY

CUNY Office of Student Health

646-344-7250

www.ghi.com

To 2/26/2008

$ 200

During open enrollment only at CUNY

(1) $ 25 varies

(2) $ 25

Generally 100%

In-Network

See Brochure for Co-payments and other limits.

Must purchase M.E. and R. separately.

Suggest through International SOS

Maximum benefit per event

n/a

PC = 11 months

$370 additional to include family members

Study USA

HealthCare

TIS & AIG

www.travelinsure.com

2008-2009

To 24 $ 39

25-29 $ 42

30-39 $ 47

40-45 $ 73

(1) $ 50

(2) $ 50

(3) $ 1040

Inside MultiPlan network

80% of first

$25,000, then

100% up to

policy maximum

M.E. up to

$30,000

R. up to

$10,000.

Inside MultiPlan doctor network:

Maximum benefit p

$ 200,000

PC = one year

S = $194

C = $ 64

Student Injury and Sickness Insurance

(living in NYS only)

United Chinese Plan

(for Asia student only)

www.studentresources.com

2008-2009

(NYS Only)

Regular Plan(R)

$44 - $46

Premier Plan (P) $48 - $51

(1) $ 45

(2) $ 45

(3) $ 745

R-100% up to $ 1,500

P-100% up to $ 5,000

R-80% up to $50,000

P-100% up to $50,000

Then 100% to Max. (R&P)

M.E. up to

$50,000

R. up to

$25,000.

Maximum benefit per event

$ 250,000

PC = 6 months

S = $234 - 260

C = $102 - 113

Visitor USA

International SOS

(“add-on” insurance)

www.internationalsos.com

$ 68 per year.

n/a

M.E. up to $50,000

R. up to $20,000

n/a

S = $62

C = $60

NOTES: 1.) The Office of International Students at The Graduate Center-CUNY does not guarantee the accuracy or complete details of any information regarding the insurance policies summarized in this chart.

2.) Policy premiums are subject to change without notice.

3.) Please read the company brochure carefully, and contact the company directly with any questions.

4.) * “Add-on” insurance is necessary to meet J-1 requirements when the student’s primary policy does not include Medical Evacuation and Repatriation coverage.

Section E

COMMERCIALLY RATED and MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS

Commercially Rated Programs:

Introduction to HMOs, POS, PPO and EPO:

New York State Law requires that all Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’s) offer two standard types of policies. One is the basic HMO plan, under which health coverage applies to care given by providers who have formed contractual arrangements with the HMO; these providers form a network that is covered under the basic plan. Care given by providers who do not belong to the network is usually not covered. The other plan is called Point of Service (POS), which has its own network of participating doctors. This is identical to the basic HMO except that with the POS option, one can choose a provider outside of the network and a portion of the cost will be covered. In other words, a POS provides one with more freedom to choose a provider; consequently a POS plan tends to be more expensive than the basic plan. There are also EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization) and PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) groups.

Review and Comparison Shopping:

For a comparison of premiums charged by the different health insurance companies in your county, visit www.nyshmoguide.org/ComparePremiumRates.asp. For a comparison of the performance of HMO’s visit www.nyshmoguide.org.

Some Rates for Commercially Rated Programs:

TraditionPLUS (Blue Cross) Hospital Program. Effective April 1, 2007
Coverage Type	Monthly Rate	Quarterly Rate NY Region
Individual	$136.85	$410.55
Family	$307.76	$923.28

Data for this chart may be obtained from: http://www.empireblue.com/member/noapplication/f3/s2/t5/pw_ad067651.pdf .

TraditionPLUS Hospital Program is a plan for hospitalization only and covers in full an unlimited number of hospital days. This plan covers both inpatient and outpatient costs. The plan does NOT cover professional fees (ie: the fee that the doctor charges when you are admitted in the hospital). You must be a resident of New York State to enroll in this plan.

Aetna Commercial Rates – July 2008
Coverage Type	HMO (monthly premium rates)	POS (monthly premium rates)
Individual	$981.00	$1,247.00
Husband / Wife	$1,962.00	$2,495.00
Parent / Child(ren)	$1,736.00	$2,208.00
Family	$2,916.00	$3,708.00

Data for the above table can be found at: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hmorates/html/hmonewyo.htm.

Questions can be addressed to 1-800-435-8742, or visit www.aetna.com.

Empire HealthChoice HMO – July 2008
Coverage Type	HMO (monthly premium)	POS (monthly premium)
Individual	$887.85	$1,483.57
Husband/Wife	$1,775.70	$2,967.14
Parent & Child(ren)	$1,598.13	$2,670.43
Family	$2,663.55	$4,450.71

Data for this chart may be obtained from: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hmorates/html/hmonewyo.htm.

For more information, call 1.800.662.5193

Oxford Health Plans (NY) – July 2008
Coverage Type	Personal HMO Plan (monthly)	Personal POS Plan (monthly)
Coverage Type	Personal HMO Plan (monthly)	Personal POS Plan (monthly)
Individual	$824.39	$1,298.30
Parent & Children	$1,648.79	$2,596.60
Husband & Wife	$1,607.57	$2,531.69
Family	$2,473.18	$3,894.90

Data for the above table may be found at: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hmorates/html/hmonewyo.htm.

For more information call 1.800.216.0778 or visit www.oxhp.com.

For a comprehensive list of all HMO and POS plans offered in New York, please visit: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hmorates/html/hmonewyo.htm. Here you will find information and commercial rates for Aetna, Atlantis, CIGNA, Empire Blue Cross, GHI, HIP, Health Net, managed Health and Oxford.

Membership Organizations:

The Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring), a Membership Organization.

This unusual, nonsectarian membership organization, offers a plethora of benefits to its members. Insurance options are available, including a dental plan, a basic hospitalization plan and a catastrophic coverage plan, but it is meant to supplement a regular insurance plan. For additional information, please contact:

The Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring)

45 East 33rd Street

New York, NY 10016

212-889-6800

http://www.circle.org/med_ny.shtml

The International Women’s Writing Guild:

This a writer’s membership organization that provides a wide array of benefits. Men are welcome to apply too. For information, visit www.iwwg.com or contact Beth Tani, the Health Insurance Benefits Coordinator at 1-888- 499-4669 or Writers@CSSAdmin.com. Please identify yourself as a current or prospective IWWG member.

Freelancer’s Union:

Eligible Freelancers Union members who live in New York, or who live in New Jersey or Connecticut and work in New York, may choose from 5 group health insurance plans. Freelancers Union offers 3 group plans through Empire BlueCross BlueShield. The Union also offers 2 group plans through The Perfect Health Insurance Company.

Eligibility and the Freelancer’s Union:

To qualify for insurance benefits you must satisfy each of the following requirements:

1. You must be an independent worker.

2. You must live or work in NY State to obtain health insurance. You must be a U.S. resident for dental insurance, disability insurance and life insurance.

*Coverage areas vary by health insurance plan and may not include all areas of New York state.

3. You must work in one or more of the following eligible industries and occupations:

* Arts, Design & Entertainment

* Domestic Child Care giver

* Financial Services

* Media & Advertising

* Nonprofit

* Skilled Computer User

* Technology

* Traditional or Alternative health care provider

4. You must demonstrate that you have done one of the following while working in the eligible industries or occupations above:

* Worked at least 20 paid hours in each of the last 8 weeks

* Earned at least $10,000 for work done within the last 6 months

Monthly Rates for Freelancer’s Union Health Insurance:

Tier	Empire Direct POS	Empire EPO#2	Empire EPO#1	PH Platinum (HAS)	PH Diamond
Individual	$382.63	$277.79	$239.64	$202.66	$130.37
Individual + Child(ren)	$683.65	$477.29	$425.50	$390.84	$247.99
Individual + Spouse/Partner	$750.20	$535.59	$470.32	$460.33	$290.72
Family	$1,067.49	$777.42	$670.51	$651.07	$411.85

Data for this chart is from: http://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/health/availability/ny-nj.html.

Highlights for each Freelancer’s Union Plan:

Empire Direct POS

* In-network and out-of-network coverage

* $25 Co-payment for in-network office visits, with no deductible

* Coinsurance out-of-network, after a $3,000 annual deductible for

individuals

* Generic and Name Brand Prescription drug coverage, with a $50 deductible

More Plan Information: http://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/health/empire/pos/index.html.

Empire EPO#1

* In-network coverage only

* $30/$50 Co-payment for office visits

* Coinsurance for in-patient care, after a $3000 annual deductible for

Individuals

* Generic prescription drug coverage only, with a $100 deductible

More Plan Information: http://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/health/empire/epo1/index.html.

Empire EPO#2

* In-network coverage only

* $30/$50 Co-payment for office visits

* Coinsurance for in-patient care, after a $2000 annual deductible for

Individuals

* Generic and Name Brand Prescription drug coverage, with a $100

deductible

More Plan Information: http://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/health/empire/epo2/index.html.

PerfectHealth EPO Platinum (HSA)

* Linked with a Health Savings Account (HSA)

* In-network coverage only

* $5,000 annual deductible for individuals

* Well-child care expenses covered 100%

* Before deductible, in-network expenses are discounted; covered 100%
after deductible

* Prescription discounts before deductible; covered 70% after deductible

More Plan Information: http://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/health/perfecthealth/epo-platinum/index.html

PerfectHealth EPO Diamond

* In-network coverage only

* $10,000 annual deductible for individuals

* Well-child care expenses covered 100%

* Before deductible, in-network expenses are discounted; covered100%

after deductible

* Prescription discounts before deductible; covered 70% after deductible

More Plan Information: http://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/health/perfecthealth/epo-diamond/index.html.