UNIVERSITY ^of ARKANSAS

PAT WALKER HEALTH CENTER

Health Insurance Education Initiative

a joint program of the Pat Walker Health Center & the Career Development Center

PWHC Home

Back to Student Health Insurance

Overview of the Health Insurance Education Initiative

Glossary of Insurance Terms

Insurance While in College

Insurance in the "Real World"

Checklists and Comparing Insurance Plans

Types of Insurance

Links

Insurance While in College

The University of Arkansas, by decision of the Student Government, contracts with Student Resources to have health insurance available to all interested students.

This insurance provides special benefits on campus (such as a $500 prescription benefit at the University Pharmacy) and ease of use at  the Pat Walker Health Center. Interested students may purchase student health insurance by contacting Pam Delany at the Pat Walker Health Center

(479) 575-4406 or pdelane@uark.edu OR access online at https://www.uhcsr.com/

Not sure of your health insurance options?

As a college student, you should not go without insurance. You may feel invincible, but you are not invulnerable to accidents and illness. Generally, three options exist for insurance coverage while in college:

• Remaining on parent's family insurance plan

• Purchasing student health insurance

• Purchasing third party health insurance

Advantages and disadvantages of these options are discussed below.

Remain on Parent's Insurance Plan

Advantages

• No extra cost (often already paying for this anyway)

• Ease of transition (no new policy to purchase, etc.)

• Pharmacy benefit with no cap (this is not always the case, but often family policies have better prescription coverage than student or third party options)

Disadvantages

• Some policies may require proof of enrollment regularly. If this paperwork is delayed or forgotten, this action could void coverage

• Many HMOs and PPOs have limited coverage outside of home area. If the parent's are not from the U of A area, perhaps there is not an "in-network" doctor or hospital near by

• Many policies have multiple clauses to void coverage after age 18 - some even if the student goes on medical leave of absence from school (they are no longer considered a full-time student). Check with your insurance company to see what voids coverage on a child over 18

Student Health Insurance

Purchased by contacting Pam Delany at the Pat Walker Health Center

(479) 575-4406 or pdelane@uark.edu

or access online at https://www.uhcsr.com/

Advantages

• Comparatively inexpensive

• Ease of use at Pat Walker Health Center with no deductible

• Extra benefits on campus

Disadvantage

• Pharmacy benefit can only be used at University Pharmacy

Third Party Insurance

Third party insurance refers to outside insurance purchased through resources like Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc directly. Web resources like www.ehealthinsurance.com can be useful.

Advantages

• Ease of use in community where accepted

• Easy transition after college (you already have your own policy through whatever company not tied to school or job or anything that can continue through whatever transition)

Disadvantages

• Can be slightly more expensive

• Research and purchasing is more time consuming

• Hundreds of options exist adding to complicated nature