Student Health Insurance Policy
Bates requires all students to have medical insurance. To ensure that students have the required coverage, the College automatically enrolls and bills all eligible students for either the Bates College Student Health Insurance Plan or the International Insurance Plan. Students may waive coverage if existing insurance meets or exceeds the coverage provided under the Bates plan and coverage is available to the student while enrolled. International students may not waive coverage unless they are insured under a US plan through a parent's US employer.
The Bates College Student Health Insurance Plan becomes effective August 15, 2009, and ends August 14, 2010. The premium for domestic students enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan for the policy year is $656. The premium for International students enrolled in the International Insurance Plan is $684.
Questions concerning either plan may be directed to:
- Cross Insurance Agency
- 217 Main Street
- Lewiston, ME 04243
- Telephone: (800) 537-6444
- Fax: (207) 783-3852
- www.crossagency.com
The Bates College Health Center is also available to answer questions at (207) 786-6199.
Online Waiver Process
For student considering whether to keep or opt out of the Bates policy, carefully consider the out-of-pocket expenses your current policy would require if you need health care in the Lewiston area before waiving coverage. Also consider the availability of services if you are in a managed care program, and the level of coverage provided for services such as prescription drugs, outpatient diagnostic treatment, or laboratory testing.
If you wish to keep the student health insurance, there is nothing that you need to do. However, if you wish to waive the charge, you must complete the following steps:
- Log onto the "Garnet Gateway", and select "Student Financial Services Menu", then choose the 2nd option under Billing & Student Accounts - "Student Health Insurance Waiver."
- Enter the following information about your existing insurance policy - policyholder name; insurance company; and policy number.
- When you have submitted the online waiver form, you will receive a confirmation number as documentation that the form has been submitted.
Be sure to have your current health insurance card with you before you start the waiver process. In order to waive the insurance, you will need to know the name of your current insurance company, the policy number, and the policy holder name. The online waiver process will open on June 2, 2009, and will close on September 30, 2009.
The deadline for waiving coverage is September 30, 2009. For students beginning in the Winter Term, the deadline to waive coverage is January 31, 2010. No waivers will be accepted beyond these deadlines.
Please note that the online student waiver process is the only way the Bates policy can be waived, and the student, not a parent, is the only person who can complete this process online.
