Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions About Insurance

Do I need health insurance?

YES!  Massachusetts State Law requires ALL full or three quarter time students at Lesley University to participate in the school sponsored Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan or provide proof of having an alternate insurance plan with comparable coverage.  Students will be automatically enrolled into the Student Insurance according to their academic status as determined by Lesley University Registrar records.  The online form to enroll or waive the insurance can be found at www.gallagherkosgter.com and completed before the deadline.  If you waive the student insurance, you must already have a qualifying health insurance to submitting the waiver before deadlines.  Failure to waive the insurance through www.gallagherkoster.com by the semester deadline, result in automatic enrollment in the insurance plan and non-refundable insurance fee charged to their student account.  If you withdraw from Lesley University after the final enrollment list goes to Gallagher Koster Insurance Agency, your insurance costs will NOT be cancelled as Lesley will have already been billed for your insurance. If you wish to try and waive this charge after the final enrollment list is sent up to Gallagher Koster, you must contact Gallagher Koster at 800-401-6068 or LesleyStudent@Kosterins.com and petition them to waive. A petition is not a guarantee that they will cancel the insurance. The final enrollment list is sent up approximately two weeks after the add/drop date.

If I already am covered, can I waive insurance?

Students who are already covered under a comparable insurance plan may complete the online waiver to waive their participation in the insurance program sponsored by Lesley.  It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the alternate insurance is adequate.  Students must submit a waiver/enrollment form by the deadline each academic year.  No late waivers will be processed.

How do I know if my current insurance is considered comparable coverage so I can waive?

Comparable coverage is an alternate insurance plan deemed comparable to the qualifying student health insurance plan. It must meet the following requirements:
The alternate health insurance plan should provide the student with reasonable and comprehensive coverage of inpatient and outpatient hospital services and physician services. The services covered under the alternate health plan must be accessible in Massachusetts and the student must have access to health services in the area where the school is located. Click here for a chart of what is deemed by law as reasonable and comprehensive coverage for students.

What is the purpose of mandatory student health insurance?

Massachusetts Law requires all College Students registered for at least 75% of full-time credits to have health insurance while in college.  To read the details on this law, go to www.state.ma.us/dhcfp to understand the health insurance requirements.  All students registered as full-time or three quarter-time at the university are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan Coverage.

Is Free Care a comparable coverage?  Will I be allowed to complete a waiver because I have access to free care?

No, free care at a Massachusetts hospital or community health center is not a health insurance program as required by Massachusetts law.  Free care pays for medically necessary services provided by hospitals and community health centers to low-income uninsured and underinsured people when there is no other source of payment available.  Where a student to need service elsewhere, they would not be covered.  Therefore, free care is not comparable coverage, and no student can use free care as a substitute for the student health insurance plan.

Is MassHealth a comparable coverage?  Will I be allowed to complete a waiver because I have MassHealth?

Yes. MassHealth does qualify as a comparable coverage. It is an insurance program with basic benefits, which meets the minimum standards for student health insurance program as required by law.  Therefore, any student who is already enrolled in MassHealth because he or she has already met the qualifying criteria of the MassHealth program is allowed to sign a waive the school-sponsored health insurance.  If you are a dependent on MassHealth, check your eligibility for coverage due to age.

When do I need to complete my online waiver forms?

For Fall 2008, the deadline to enroll or waive was August 15, 2008.  If you missed the deadline, and would like to petition to waive the insurance, you must now contact Gallagher Koster Insurance and submit at www.gallagherkoster.com. 

I am a Lesley student; how do I know if I am eligible for student health insurance?

If you are registered as a full time or three-quarter time student at Lesley University for the Fall or Spring semesters you are eligible for the school sponsored insurance and can purchase and be enrolled in a plan directly through Lesley Unversity.  Students will be automatically enrolled into the Student Insurance according to their academic status determined by Lesley University Registrar records.  Academic status can also change semester to semester so you may be a half time student in Fall (the beginning of the academic year) and then become a three-quarter or full time student in the Spring and therefore eligible under Massachusetts State Law.

What if I am a part time student?

Students whose status is less than three-quarter time at Lesley University are not eligible for Lesley-administered student health insurance.  If you are a part-time student, recent graduate, or taking a short break in your educational pursuits, you can contact Gallagher Koster Insurance directly and get information about their "Amercian College Student Association" Plan (ACSA).  They can help you determine your eligibilty to enroll in their insurance plan directly.  For more information visit www.gallagherkoster.com or call 1-800-401-6068.

Can my spouse and children be covered by Lesley University student health insurance?

No. Lesley University no longer offers plans for students seeking family coverage.

I am an international student; must I purchase health insurance as an international student?

International students must either purchase the student plan or show proof of comparable U.S. coverage.  Please contact the Student Insurance Office at studentinsurance@lesley.edu for more details.

What is covered under the Student Accident and Sickness plan?

• The plan covers medical expenses, including hospital room and board, inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures, emergency outpatient care, lab and x-rays, inpatient and outpatient mental health, prescription drugs, physician office visits and limited coverage for accidental dental expense and the removal of impacted wisdom teeth.
• Payment will be made as allocated for covered medical expenses incurred for an Injury or Sickness while insured under the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan Basic Coverage, not to exceed the per condition aggregate maximum of $50,000.  Please refer to the brochure for limitations and exclusions.
• The 2008/2009 brochure will be available later this summer.

What doctors and hospitals can I go to?

You can go to any area doctor or hospital. For the 2008/2009 school year you will first pay a $150 deductible and you will be covered 80% (after a $25 co-pay for doctors, and a $50 co-pay for the emergency room) if you see doctors on the Health Care Value Management Network. You will be covered 60% (after co-pays) for doctors and hospitals not in network. You may go to www.uhcsr.com/lookupredirect.aspx?delsys=67 or call 800-767-0700 to find a provider near you.

Do I get an ID card?

You will receive an insurance ID Card at the address the University has on file for you. Carry it at all times and show it to the doctor or any other healthcare provider before receiving care or when filling a prescription. If you need to see a doctor before you receive your ID card, tell the provider that you are covered under the Lesley University Student Accident and Sickness Insurance program. Your provider can always call Gallagher Koster Insurance Agency at 800-401-6068 to verify eligibility. If you need an ID card, request one by email to: LesleyStudent@kosterins.com

Does this plan cover me when I am off campus?

Yes, the Student Accident and Sickness Plan covers you during semester breaks, summer vacation and even if you're studying abroad. You'll be covered for the period for which you paid premium. So if you paid the premium for the entire year this year, you would be covered from September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009.

Does this plan cover routine eye exam or the cost of eyewear?

The Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan doesn't cover these vision services, but if you are enrolled in the insurance plan, you also get enrolled in the EyeMed Vision Program. EyeMed's plan includes discounts on prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses or even non-prescription sunglasses. Some of the nation's most highly qualified laser vision correction surgeons will even offer savings. Contact EyeMed at: http://www.enrollwitheyemed.com

What about Dental Coverage?

The plan does not include dental insurance, but there is a discount program. Click here for more information.

Questions about Immunizations

What kinds of immunizations do I need to show proof of?

Massachusetts State Law mandates that full time students in Massachusetts provide the following proof of immunization certification.
There are 4 required immunizations for FULL TIME students:

MMR
2 doses of MMR
(Vaccines must be given after the 1st birthday and at least one full month apart.)

TD Booster
1 tetanus and diphtheria booster within the last 10 years

Chicken Pox/Varicella
2 doses series or Date of Disease

Hepatitis B
3 dose series

Meningitis

This immunization will be required of ALL new resident students. You must either provide proof of the vaccine, or read the information sheet and submit a signed waiver. (note: If you do sign the waiver you could be excluded from campus if there is an outbreak as there would be a great risk to your health.)

***These immunizations are also required for ALL part time and full time International students studying under a visa.

I know I have had the required immunizations, but I cannot locate the records.  Do I have to get the immunizations again?

If you are unable to locate accurate information about your immunizations, you are required to have a positive serological blood test to determine immunity.  However, since there is no test to prove immunity to tetanus and diphtheria, you will need to have a tetanus/diphtheria booster in order to fulfill the Massachusetts State Immunization requirements.