NIU Student Health Insurance’s new contract with Unicare for coverage up to $1 million will not change who accepts NIU’s insurance, health officials said.

“Health care providers can’t refuse to accept an insurance plan [if it is valid],” said Beverly Espe, acting director of Health Services.

The old plan with national insurance carrier Mega, covered students up to $250,000, with a $250 deductible, said Regina Crosby, manager for the Student Insurance Office. The deductible may confuse some students who think a doctor’s office is rejecting their insurance. Students may think they can show their insurance card and not pay, but many health facilities ask for part of the payment up front, Crosby said.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital, 626 Bethany Road, requires a claim form of every patient who receives care, said Liz Shurson, director of patient financial services for KCH.

KCH Administrator Brad Copple said the hospital determines if student insurance is the patient’s primary coverage and if so, bills the insurance company.

“We would not deny a service,” Copple said.

Students receive a statement every 30 days and any amount not paid by the insurance carrier is billed to the student, Shurson said. Students usually pay a 20 percent co-pay, she said. The carrier pays the balance, or 80 percent, of the bill.

Don Henderson, director of the Students’ Legal Assistance Office, said insurance companies can and do deny claims submitted by students without full coverage.

“This kind of issue comes up all the time,” he said.

Most claims are “black-and-white” as to whether or not they are covered. Claims can be denied for reasons such as pre-existing conditions and elective procedures, he said. If a claim is denied, students have a right to appeal, he said.

With NIU Student Insurance’s new plan, the price per student will increase from $233.70 to $288.85, and much of that amount can be attributed to medical inflation, which has increased 10 to 20 percent in the last few years and includes such things as hospital charges, Crosby said. The new plan is effective Aug. 12.

There are currently between 9,000 and 10,000 students on the plan, Crosby said. It covers injuries and sickness 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world, Crosby said in a Feb. 23 Northern Star article.

Student insurance is automatically included on a student’s bursar bill at the beginning of every semester. It is the student’s responsibility to opt out of the plan within the first 15 calendar days of the semester by completing a waiver form and providing proof of other coverage through an insurance card or verification letter.