PacificSource Insurance benefits include a comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plan. A complete PDF file of benefits is available for viewing by clicking on the "Summary of Coverage" link above.
Yes, all eligible graduate fellows are required to enroll in PacificSource insurance or file a waiver form with the student insurance office. Waiver details are listed under the link "Graduate Plan Waiver Requirements" above.
Yes, costs are listed below under "What does it cost?" In order to enroll family members, the graduate fellow will elect dependent coverage on the health insurance enrollment form and will have the additional premium cost charged directly to his/her OSU business office account on a monthly basis. Monthly dependent coverage cost will be charged in addition to the 15% out-of-pocket charges plus admin fee for the graduate fellow-only premium.
The health insurance plan year runs from October 1 to September 30. However, insurance coverage is on a month-to-month basis and will be based on the graduate fellowship appointment begin and end dates. Insurance coverage will become effective on the first day of a month and will end on the last day of a month. If the fellowship begins before the 15th of the month, the insurance effective date will be the first of that month. If the fellowship begins the 16th or after, the insurance effective date will be the first day of the following month. It is important to make sure that all required paperwork, including signed letters of offer, graduate fellow appointment forms, and health insurance enrollment and/or waiver forms are processed in a timely manner. Processing delays beyond the 16th of the month will result in double charges on the graduate fellow’s OSU business office account the following month.
OSU will pay 85 percent of the yearly premium cost for graduate fellow-only coverage. Dependents can be added for an additional cost. Premiums for 2009-10 (charged on a per-month basis) are listed below:
Graduate fellow only coverage - $38.32
Graduate fellow + Spouse/Partner - $275.42
Graduate fellow + Children (1 or more) - $204.27
Graduate fellow + Spouse/Partner + Children - $441.35
The University will contribute 85 percent of the insurance premium plus
one half of the administrative fee. Graduate fellows will be
responsible for the remaining 15 percent plus one half of the
administrative fee. If elected, additional coverage for dependents will
be paid by the graduate fellow during the fellowship appointment
period. Monthly charges will be applied to the graduate fellow’s OSU
business office account. Graduate fellows are financially responsible
for prompt payment of these expenses. Failure to clear charges on the
OSU business office account may impact the fellow’s ability to register
in subsequent academic terms.
Graduate fellows must complete and submit a health insurance enrollment or coverage waiver form with his/her signed letter of appointment offer. Some departments may include an enrollment form in the graduate fellow’s appointment packet. Enrollment forms are also available for download at the top of this page, or from the Student Health Insurance Office. Graduate fellows are asked to not turn the health insurance enrollment form into the PacificSource web site.
Note: All eligible graduate fellows, including those with continuous multi-year fellowships, must fill out either a health insurance enrollment form or waiver form every Fall as this is the beginning of the health insurance plan year. During Fall term, all forms are due by September 30. All late forms must be received in the Insurance office by the 10th of the starting month for payroll purposes as explained above.
Graduate fellows who have other insurance may qualify to waive out of mandatory enrollment in PacificSource. However, graduate fellows who waive out of the university plan will not be eligible for the university’s contribution toward premiums. In order to qualify for a waiver, the graduate fellow’s alternate insurance plan must be similar in coverage to PacificSource. Waiver forms may be downloaded from the top of this page. A summary of coverage as well as a copy of both sides of the insurance card must accompany the completed waiver.
The Domestic Student Insurance plan does not qualify as a comparable plan and can not be used to waive out of the Graduate Fellow Health Insurance plan. However, the International Student Insurance plan is an eligible plan for international students to use if they choose to waive out of the Graduate Fellow plan. International graduate fellows should carefully compare the coverage and cost of each plan. If a graduate fellow chooses to purchase the international plan instead of the mandatory graduate fellow insurance, they will need to submit a waiver in the same manner as described in the paragraph above. OSU will not pay for any portion of the cost of the alternate plan. The International plan through OSU has an open enrollment period so it would be important to make a decision within the dates of open enrollment. Dates of open enrollment are in the International Plan brochure available in the Insurance Office or online at http://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/insurance/international.
Note: International graduate fellows may choose either PacificSource or the OSU International insurance plan during Fall term and are required to remain on the same plan for the duration of that academic year. Graduate fellows may change plans only if there is a break in their fellowship appointment.
When the graduate fellowship appointment ends, optional COBRA coverage may be elected. COBRA coverage is a continuation of the same PacificSource coverage that was available as a graduate fellow, but without the university contribution toward premium costs. COBRA benefits also may be elected if the graduate fellowship lapses during the summer session and resumes fall term. There is no provision for institutional subsidy during any period in which the graduate fellowship appointment is not active. Additional information about COBRA coverage can be obtained by calling Manley Services at (541) 485-7488. Forms for COBRA coverage are available in the Student Insurance Office and must be filed with Manley Services within 30 days of termination of the graduate fellowship appointment. PacificSource will also send information to you regarding Portability Insurance. This is insurance from PacificSource, but the coverage is not the same as the coverage within the graduate fellow program. The Customer Service phone number for PacificSource is 1-888-977-9299.
Graduate students whose appointments convert from an assistantship to a fellowship from one term to the next (that is, the appointments are sequential with no lapse between appointment periods), will not be required to submit a new health insurance enrollment or waiver form. However, if there is any lapse in time between appointments, a new health insurance enrollment or waiver form will be required.
As a courtesy, the Billing Office at SHS will submit bills to PacificSource for visits with SHS providers. The Billing Office sends out bills once a month to PacificSource for processing. After PacificSource receives and processes the billing, they will send an EOB (or Explanation of Benefits) to the insured which will explain whether charges were posted to the deductible ($200 must be met before any payments made), were uncovered, or are being paid and at what percentage. If the deductible has been met and charges were covered services (see the Graduate Insurance website for links to quick summary or full pdf of covered services), a check will be issued along with the EOB. All charges from Student Health will be charged onto student’s OSU business office account and the student has the responsibility to pay in a timely manner so as not to incur interest from the University. For any further questions on this process, you may contact the Billing office at (541) 737-8370.
For services outside of the Student Health Center, please refer to the list of Preferred Providers which may be found online at www.PacificSource.com. When you go to that provider for an appointment, you will need to present your insurance card so that the office can bill PacificSource for your visit. Some offices will ask you to pay your percentage up front, or may bill you after they have received an Explanation of Benefits from PacificSource. If you receive a billing from an outside provider that you do not understand, or does not look as if it has been charged to PacificSource, you should call the billing office for that doctor for clarification. You can also call PacificSource Customer Service to ask if they have received any billings for that date of service. PacificSource Customer Service can be reached at (888) 977-9299 or (541) 684-5582.
