(See the bottom of the page for some helpful tips
about using your insurance!)
Spring & Summer 2013 Health Insurance Info
for F & J Students at Old Dominion University
Please change your bookmark with the
updated URL for ODU's Aetna Student Health plan.
Be sure to read the whole message and remember that ALL F-1 and J-1 students must have insurance approved by Old Dominion University (currently Aetna) or an approved waiver for the Spring & Summer 2013 semesters.
Paying for Your Insurance: Just as in the Fall 2012 semester, your insurance will be added to your tuition statement on LeoOnline when you register for courses. There are two ways to pay for your coverage: one payment or multiple payments. If you wish to make multiple payments, you can sign up for the payment plan which will break down all of your tuition fees into four equal installments, and thus giving you the benefit of not having to come up with the entire $791 insurance fee at one time. To set up the payment plan, you'll need to submit the Payment Plan form to the Cashier on the second floor of Rollins Hall; all payment plan questions can be directed to that office.
Spring & Summer Coverage Dates: Coverage becomes effective 01/01/2013 and ends on 07/31/2013. As an ODU international student, you are required to have health insurance at all times, thus the dates above. If you graduate in May or travel outside the United States for the summer, please know Aetna will not provide a partial refund.
Insurance Cards & Enrollment: You are automatically enrolled for the continued coverage when you enroll for classes--whether you enroll for 1 credit or 15 credits. If you currently have Aetna insurance from Fall 2012, Aetna will NOT send you a new card. However, if Spring 2013 is your first semester here at ODU, Aetna will send you a card. As always, you need to ensure that your SEVIS U.S. and U.S. "Permanent" addresses are up-to-date. Besides the need to have them updated for the insurance, remember that incorrect addresses are also a violation of your F-1 or J-1 visa status. (See the FORMS page of the ISSS site for forms to update these addresses.)
Waivers: There are very limited circumstances in which students can be exempted from Aetna. Cases where an exemption may be possible (pending proper documentation):
1. Coverage provided by a home government sponsor with a U.S.-based insurance company
2. Marriage to someone whose employer provides coverage from a U.S.-based insurance company
3. Parents with insurance provided by a U.S.-based insurance company
All of the above items require documentation be submitted to ISSS. In addition, items 2 and 3 require you to have an approved waiver on file in ISSS. To be eligible for this waiver, the insurance in question must meet all of the following requirements:
5 be equal to OR greater than the insurance Aetna provides, and
5 comply with the Commonwealth of Virginia mandates, and
5 be filed and approved for sale in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and
5 contain unlimited coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains to your home country
Waiver recipients in Fall 2012: You will need to e-mail ISSS to request the waiver exception for Spring 2013. Please put WAIVER SPRING 2013 in the subject line. ISSS cannot assume the coverage you had in place in August 2012 remains in effect. It is the student's responsibility to provide proof of the coverage, which can be in the form of a letter from your insurance provider indicating the coverage will continue to be in effect through 07/31/2013, as well as that there are no changes to the policy. The letter must be in English, on company letterhead and include full address/phone information. It can be e-mailed by the company to us directly or the student can forward the e-mail they received from the provider with this documentation. The letter must be submitted to ISSS by 3 p.m. on Friday, 1 February 2013.
Waivers for new students in Spring & Summer 2013: If you meet one of the three waiver eligibilities above, please e-mail ISSS by Monday, 14 January to request the waiver form. A completed waiver form-including all of the documentation listed on the waiver form-must be submitted to ISSS by 3 p.m. on Friday, 1 February 2013.
Dependents: J-1s must, per federal law, continue to maintain coverage for their dependents; the policy must meet requirements outlined by the Department of State and documentation must be submitted to ISSS. Aetna is still available for this coverage, if desired. F-1 dependents are no longer required to have Aetna as their primary insurance; even so, ODU strongly encourages you to have coverage for your spouse and children at all times. If you wish to keep your dependents with Aetna, you are welcome to do so. If your dependents have a pre-existing condition (including pregnancy) that they are being treated or have been treated for in the past, keep in mind that the new insurance company may not allow payment for treating the condition for anywhere from six months to a year-depending on the company.
Helpful Information about the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan
& Student Health Services
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The semester health fee is not reimbursable by Aetna. However, for other fee-for-service charges at the Student Health Center, just stop at the front desk on your way out. Ask for an Aetna claim form with your checkout statement. Fill out the top of the claim form, sign and date it on line 27 and send it with your checkout statement to the claim mailing address on the back of your Aetna ID card. Aetna will reimburse the student at 100% As an example, the influenza vaccine (flu shot) costs $10 at Student Health. After you receive your flu shot at Student Health, submit the completed claim form and checkout statement to Aetna; Aetna will reimburse the student $10.
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UItilize the services available at the
Student Health Center to reduce your out-of-pocket costs (the amount you pay).
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If you have an urgent health concern when the Student Health Center is closed, call ODU Police Department at 757.683.4000 and ask for the Student Health Services on-call cliniciam. The on-call clinician will return your call and advise you accordingly.
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If you are referred to a health care provider or source of health care off-campus, ask if they are in the Aetna network since your out-of-pocket costs are lower by seeing in-network providers.
