STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION AND PROCEDURE

LSUHSC-New Orleans offers students the option of purchasing student health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA). During registration, students must either purchase insurance coverage from BCBSLA or must be prepared to show evidence of coverage by another company, in which case the requirement to purchase may be waived. Students who receive medical treatment or who are referred to outside hospitals or clinics will be responsible for their bills. Students will be expected to pay the charges and then file a claim with their insurance carrier.

The premiums for the new plan year are included in the 2024 – 2025 LSUHSC Student Health Insurance brochure. We will be collecting these premiums semi-annually or for six months at a time. The annual plan year runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

BCBSLA does not offer COBRA coverage because it is only required by law for employee health insurance plans. If you plan on graduating in May 2024 and have paid for the health insurance plan, you will have coverage until June 30, 2024.

Example: Mary receives her M.D. degree on May 15th, her student health plan coverage ends on June 30th. She begins her new job on July 1 and her insurance through her new employer begins on August 1. Mary will have to make arrangements to obtain coverage for the month of July until her new plan is effective.

BCBSLA does not offer COBRA coverage because it is only required by law for employee health insurance plans. If you plan on graduating in May 2023 and have paid for the health insurance plan, you will have coverage until June 30, 2023.

If you still have questions after reviewing the brochure and the information on this web site, please email shi@lsuhsc.edu.

 

Procedures for Students to Obtain Coverage for Themselves

1. Students obtain health insurance policy or produce evidence of coverage that supports a waiver from purchasing health insurance policy during the registration process at the Bursar's Office located on the first floor of the Resource Center Building (433 Bolivar Street). Students with waivers are assessed a premium for needle stick benefits only.
    
2. For continuing students, we are assuming they will want to maintain the same coverage they had at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. If not, please see voluntary changes below.
    
3. The LSUHSC Bursar's Office will collect premiums due to BCBSLA when students opt for coverage or process refunds due to the student when coverage is being dropped. Please see voluntary and involuntary changes below.
    
4. Open enrollment periods: Fall 2024 - Students are permitted to enroll for insurance effective July 1, 2024 for a period of 62 days ending August 31, 2024. Spring 2025 - Students are permitted to enroll for insurance effective January 1, 2025 for a period of 31 days ending January 31, 2025. Summer 2025 - Students are permitted to enroll for insurance effective May 1, 2025 for a period of 31 days ending May 31, 2025.
   
   
5. Students may be asked to provide BCBSLA with proof of prior coverage from their previous insurance carrier.

Procedures for Students to Make Voluntary Changes in Coverage

1. Students will go to the Bursar's Office to process voluntary changes within the deadlines shown above under open enrollment periods.
    
2. LSUHSC Bursar's Office will collect premiums due to BCBSLA when students opt for coverage or process refunds due to the student when coverage is being dropped.
    
3. Students may be asked to provide BCBSLA with proof of prior coverage from their previous insurance carrier.

Procedures for Students to Make Involuntary Changes in Coverage Due to Qualifying Events

1. A qualifying event includes involuntary loss of coverage under another health insurance plan, marriage or birth or adoption of a child.
    
2. Students with qualifying events who wish to enroll in the student health insurance plan and contact the Bursar's Office during the first through fifteenth day of each month will be enrolled effective the first day of that month and charged a prorated premium beginning with that date.
    
3. Students with qualifying events who wish to enroll in the student health insurance plan and contact the Bursar's Office during the sixteenth through the last day of each month will be enrolled effective the first day of the following month and charged a prorated premium beginning with that date.
    
4. Students may be asked to provide BCBSLA with proof of prior coverage from their previous insurance carrier.

Procedures for Residents, Fellows and House Officers to Obtain Student Health Insurance

To enroll in coverage for the medical or needle stick plans, please contact our local partner Gallagher Benefit Services at lsu.hsc.gbs@ajg.com or 225-906-1280 .

Procedures for Students to Obtain Coverage for Dependents

Premium costs for your eligible dependents (spouse and children) to enroll in the medical plan varies according to each dependent's age. For more information and/or to enroll your eligible dependents, please contact our local partner Gallagher Benefit Services at lsu.hsc.gbs@ajg.com or 225-906-1227.

Please note that you must enroll your dependents within 30 days of the effective date of coverage for your specific program, and you must pay the total premium due through the end of the current academic term upon enrollment.

Please refer to page 3 of the Student Health Insurance Brochure for a list of programs and effective dates. If enrollment doesn't occur within those 30 days following the effective dates, you will be only allowed to enroll your dependents within 31 days of an involuntary loss of coverage or a qualifying life event.

 

Student Dental and Vision Insurance Information and Enrollment

LSUHSC-New Orleans offers students and their dependents the option to purchase dental and vision coverage through UnitedHealthCare. Student Only, Student + One, and Student + Family options are available.

The UnitedHealthCare dental plan includes coverage for preventive, basic, and major services at an affordable cost.   For more detailed plan information, click HERE

The United Health Care vision plan includes coverage for an eye exam and either contact lenses or eyeglass frames and lenses every 12 months.  With this plan, you will have access to a national network of independent eye care professionals and large optical retail chains. For more detailed plan information, click HERE

To enroll, visit HERE

Needle Stick Coverage

1. Coverage is provided for eligible students for testing and prophylactic treatment of blood-borne diseases following at-risk contact with blood or other body fluids from human or animal sources. This contact may include but is not limited to needle sticks. This benefit is not subject to any co-payment or annual deductible requirement.
    
2. The stick fee coverage has been upgraded to include a 3 day supply of prophylaxis drugs to be prescribed when a student has experienced a needle stick. The needle stick policy identification card that students receive in the mail includes information necessary to process pharmacy claims in the event of a needle stick.   
    
3. Students who have Medicaid as their primary insurance must present both their needle stick card and their Medicaid card to the pharmacy for ALL prescriptions.
    

4. To ensure that you receive services from an in-network provider or facility, follow these steps:

   • Visit the website (http://www.bcbsla.com).
   • Click on the "FIND A DOCTOR" option.
   • Under the "All Networks" section, click on the drop-down box.
   • Select "Preferred Care PPO" from the options provided.
   • Proceed to search for a doctor, hospital, or specialty that suits your needs.
   • Once you have found a suitable provider, make sure they are listed as a Blue Cross member of the Preferred Care network.
   • When receiving services, ensure that you present your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana ID Card.
   • The network provider will handle the claims submission process on your behalf.

   
   Services also can be received at any of The LSU Student Health Clinics.

   Place of Treatment - According to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Schedule of Benefits, the only claims eligible for 100% coverage are claims submitted with ICD-10 Codes W46.1XXA, W46.1XXD, W46.1XXS, Z57.8 and Z77.21 regardless of the place of treatment.

   This Benefit Plan does not cover any Inpatient Admission, additional or follow-up testing or treatment not specific to needlesticks, antiviral or antibiotic treatments or pharmacy benefits outside of those specifically listed under the Prescription Drug Benefit below.

   	NEEDLESTICK BENEFIT
   Hepatitis/HIV Antibody/Antigen Tests and Vaccines	Plan pays 100%	Plan pays 100% of Allowable Charges
   Lab Work	Plan pays 100%	Plan pays 100% of Allowable Charges
   Outpatient Facility Charges	Plan pays 100%	Plan pays 100% of Allowable Charges

   
    
5. LSUHSC Student Health Clinic information is available at http://www.lsuhsc.edu/orgs/studenthealth/ .
    
6. Students who are charged the needle stick only fee have provided proof of having their own insurance policy and should be familiar with the benefits offered by their own insurance plan for needle sticks. 

 

 Student Health Insurance Brochure

Click here for the LSUHSC Student Health Insurance Brochure