UC Hastings College of the Law Logo
Make Your Gift | Media | A to Z | Contact Us | WebAdvisor | Email
Home › Health Services › Health FAQs

Health FAQs

What are the health benefits of being a Hastings student?
See the Health Services page.

What are the services available at Student Health Services?
See the Hours and Services and Staff pages.

Where should I go in emergencies or during weekends, breaks, vacations or after-hours?
See the Emergency and After Hours Care page.

Where do I go for health care or counseling? Do I have to go to Student Health Services?
Student Health Services is located in Suite 202 of the 200 McAllister building. SHS is the primary care provider (PCP) for all students with Hastings insurance. This means that if you have Hastings health insurance, all medical or psychiatric care must begin first in the SHS (except for medical or psychiatric emergencies, or if the Health Center is closed. If you have waived out of Hastings health insurance, you have a choice of coming to SHS or going to your primary care provider (PCP) through your health insurance.

What is the importance of having health insurance as a student?
Medical costs can be overwhelming and are rising continuously. Without health insurance, students can go into great debt with excessive medical bills that will only hinder their academic careers. Having accident and sickness health insurance can ensure success to help facilitate the growth of a healthy individual and bright academic future.

What is the difference between Nationwide, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, Renaissance, Beech Street, and PIA?
Nationwide Life Insurance Company is the insurance carrier for 2008-2009.

National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA is the insurance carrier for 2008-2009.

Renaissance is the insurance broker who helps find and facilitate the use of insurance.

Beech Street is the provider group (PPO) of MDs and affiliated health care providers who accept patients on the Hastings health insurance plan.

Personal Insurance Administrators (PIA) is the third party administrator who pays claims on behalf of the insurance company.

What does "out of network" mean?
Out of network means any health care provider who does not belong to the Beech Street group. By seeing someone who is out of network, insurance will cover only 60% of what is reasonable and customary after the co-pay is paid. The student will be responsible for 40% of the bill.

What is a "preferred provider"?
At Hastings a preferred provider is a medical provider and member of the Beech Street group. See the list of participating providers online.

What is a referral?
A referral is made by the primary care provider in Student Health Services if a student needs to see a specialist or needs special testing not done at Student Health. A referral is mandatory if the student wishes PIA to pay for a claim.

What is a primary care provider (PCP)?
Most health care insurance plans have PCPs. A PCP is a medical care provider who sees a patient for general health care and who refers to specialists if deemed necessary by the PCP. The way the Hastings insurance system is set up, you must see your PCP (Student Health Services MD or Nurse Practitioner) first and then if he/she refers you out to a specialist, the insurance recognizes this as a legitimate referral and will pay for the claim. If you self-refer to a specialist, the claim will not be covered by Hastings insurance, unless you are greater than 50 miles from Hastings Student Health Services or it during a time when the Student Health Services is closed. There is a caveat with this, though. If it is just after hours and you have a non-emergent issue that could wait until the next day when Student Health is open, the claim probably won't be covered by the insurance. However, if you have an emergency situation you may go to an emergency room or urgent care facility, and the claim will be covered by the insurance.

What is "Accident and Sickness" health insurance?
The Hastings Accident and Sickness insurance covers for common acute and chronic illnesses or accidents. Accident and Sickness policies do not cover preventive health care such an immunizations, screening tests, except when mandated by the state or specific exceptions have been made when the policy has been set up.

What is a deductible?
A deductible is a fixed amount of money that the insured must pay before the insurance company will begin to pay for claims. The Hastings student health insurance plan has no deductible.

What is an out of pocket maximum?
An out of pocket maximum is also referred to as a "stop loss" which means when a certain amount has been paid out of pocket by the insured, the liability of the insured ceases when the out of pocket maximum has been reached, and the policy then pays 100% of costs. For the Hastings insurance plan, the out of pocket maximum is $3000 for all conditions per plan year, but this amount does not include the $25 co-pay for office visits

What is the effective date of coverage?
Insurance for the Hastings insurance plan becomes effective at 12:01am on the first day of the applicable semester for which the eligible student has paid student fees.

What are the dates of coverage for the 2008-2009 academic year?

Semester Effective Date Termination Date
Fall 8/25/08 1/12/09
Spring/Summer 1/12/09 8/24/09


What happens if I withdraw from UC Hastings? Will my insurance coverage still be effective?
Should an Insured Student take a leave of absence or withdraw from the College, the coverage will end under the Policy on the last day of the semester of matriculation. However, If an Insured Student withdraws from school for any reason during the first ten school days from, and including, the first day of classes of either the fall or the spring term, this coverage will be retroactively deemed to not ever have been in effect for the term in question and a full refund will be issued for both the Insured Student and his/her dependents.

I just graduated from school. Can I still purchase this insurance?
There is no continuation coverage for this plan for students and/or dependents who are no longer eligible. For information on temporary short-term insurance plans that are available for students who are no longer eligible for the UC Hastings Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan contact Renaissance Agencies, Inc. at 1-800-537-1777 or access the website.

How can I enroll my family members?
Eligible dependents may enroll by completing an Enrollment Form at the beginning of each semester and up to the 30 days immediately following the beginning of each semester. Enrollment forms can be either be picked up at the Student Health Service or downloaded. Please see the Enrollment Deadline Dates.

Are there any reasons that someone would not be accepted based on a medical condition?
No. However, pre-existing conditions are not covered for the first six (6) months you are insured under this plan. If the condition still needs treatment after six (6) months of continuous coverage, treatment for the condition is then covered. A pre-existing condition is a sickness or injury for which medical care, treatment, diagnosis or advice was received or recommended within the six (6) month period immediately prior to the insured effective date of coverage under the policy.

What is continuous coverage?
Continuous coverage means that period of time during which the insured person was continuously covered under the UC Hasting Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan or any other qualified health insurance plan, with no lapse in coverage between this policy and any of the prior policies. Please note that if continuous coverage under the Student Accident And Sickness Insurance Plan is not maintained, benefits may not be available for conditions that existed prior to the next enrollment following a break in continuous coverage. A lapse in continuous coverage is defined by the State of California as 63 continuous days without coverage.

Am I covered if I travel?
Yes. Within the U.S., PPO providers are available nationwide through the Beech Street Corporation network. Call Beech Street toll-free at 1-800-877-1444 or access the website to find providers.

You are also covered when traveling abroad. The plan covers you anywhere in the world. You will most likely need to pay for treatment at the time of the visit and submit the claim yourself to be reimbursed. Coverage will be 60% of reasonable and customary (R&C).

What is the maximum the insurance company will pay?
The lifetime aggregate maximum is up to $50,000 per injury or sickness and up to $6,000 for Outpatient services per injury or sickness. Covered services are paid at 80% if a PPO provider is utilized, or 60% if a non-PPO provider is utilized.



Can I enroll for the maximum coverage?
Yes. You may enroll for the maximum amount of coverage to $200,000 by paying an additional fee of $229 per semester. Enrollment forms are available from Student Health Services or can be downloaded.



Are my prescriptions covered?
The prescription drug card program is offered through Express Scripts. Students must bring their Express Scripts Pharmacy card to an Express Scripts network pharmacy to have their prescriptions filled. Express Scripts cards are issued for each student and can be picked up at the Student Health Service. For information regarding Express Scripts providers, call 1-800-844-9096 or access their website.

After a $10 co-pay for generic, $15 co-pay for single-source or $20 co-pay for multi-source brand name prescriptions, prescription drugs are covered up to $5,000 per plan year. The co-pay applies to each 30-day supply.

Does this plan cover vision care?
See the Insurance Benefits page.

Does this plan cover dental services?
See the Insurance Benefits page.

Whom do I contact about a claim?
See the Claim Forms page.

How do I file a claim?
See the Claim Forms page.

How do I obtain an insurance ID Card?
A temporary ID card is attached to the back cover of the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan. Upon receipt of eligibility from the school, if you are insured you will be able to download a personalized ID card online. Simply go to the website below, enter the requested information and print the card. Your covered dependents may also use this card for proof of insurance. Your permanent insurance ID card will be mailed to you

How do I obtain a certificate of coverage?
You can request a Certification of Qualifying Health Plan Coverage from Renaissance Agencies, Inc. This request can be made by phone or in writing. This request must include the name of the school and the name of the person covered under the plan.

Renaissance Agencies, Inc.
1437 Seventh Street, Suite 400
Santa Monica, CA 90401
1-800-537-1777

I need to change my mailing address. What do I need to do?
You can update your mailing address information by contacting:

Renaissance Agencies, Inc.
1437 Seventh Street, Suite 400
Santa Monica, CA 90401
1-800-537-1777

You can email your information. Remember, this change of address is for insurance purposes only. It is not an official change of address for UC Hastings.

If I have other insurance coverage do I still need to purchase UC Hastings Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan?
All eligible students are automatically insured under the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan unless the student has already submitted evidence of having comparable coverage under another health insurance plan for the current school year. Information on obtaining a waiver is available online on the Health Insurance Waiver Form page or from Student Health

What do I need to do to waive out of the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan?
See the Health Insurance Waiver Form page.

© 2010 UC Hastings College of the Law, 200 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Map/Directions | Employment | Site Map