| Don’t forget to pack their benefits Sending your student to college? By DEBORAH STAYMAN Do you have a son or daughter getting ready to start college in August? If the answer is yes, chances are you already have a to-do list of things to buy and errands to run before the big day when you load up the car and make the trip to campus.  Don’t forget you also have some important health benefits matters to take care of before sending your son or daughter to college miles from home. The following checklist is designed to help you have everything ready by the time your new freshman leaves for campus. - Check with your doctor to make sure all immunizations, including hepatitis, tetanus and meningitis (See article, this page.) are up to date and that the required documentation is submitted to the school health office. - Obtain any new prescriptions or refills they will need. - Schedule any needed dental or vision appointments. - If you are enrolled in the Empire Plan and need an identification card for your son or daughter, contact your agency health benefits administrator. If you are enrolled in an HMO, contact it directly to request a card. - If you are enrolled in the Empire Plan and your son or daughter will need to see a physician while at college, visit the online participating provider directory at www.provider.uhc.com/empire to print a list of providers by zip code. - If you are enrolled in an HMO and your student’s college is located outside the HMO’s service area, call it to find out what services will be covered. The toll-free number is listed on the PEF Web site at www.pef.org/healthbenefits/hmos.htm. - Some colleges offer health insurance policies to students. If you are enrolled in an HMO and your son or daughter will have benefits only for emergency services while at college you may want to consider purchasing a policy. Remember that you also have an opportunity to change health plan options in November. - You will need your child’s authorization in the form of a signed Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) waiver to resolve any claim problems. You can download the form from the state Department of Civil Service Web site at www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/. Click on the link for HIPAA Privacy Information and then print the HIPAA Authorization Form. - If you are enrolled in the Health Care Spending Account, remind your son or daughter to save receipts from any health-care related expenses such as prescription drug copays or over-the-counter medications. For a list of reimbursable items, visit www.flexspend.state.ny.us/otc.asp online. |
 Empire Plan now covering meningitis vax Starting July 1, the Empire Plan is covering meningitis vaccinations. The vaccine is covered for dependent children up to age 19, under both the participating provider and basic medical components of the plan. Full-time dependent students age 19 and older will be covered for the vaccine under the adult immunization benefit, which is through a participating provider only. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics are recommending children aged 11 and 12, and high school and college students living in dormitories be vaccinated. Because supplies of the vaccine are limited, providers are being advised to vaccinate children aged 11, 12 and 17 and college students in the identified risk group. Students in the 13 to 16 age range will receive the vaccine in subsequent years. Vaccination at age 11 can protect children from the disease through college. However, since the meningitis vaccine is specific to certain strains of meningitis bacteria, it will not protect against all forms of the disease. Parents should discuss the appropriateness of this vaccine for their children with their pediatrician. — Deborah Stayman |
The
Communicator July/August 05
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