Carleton College is invested in the health and welfare of our students. Consequently, we require all enrolled students to have health insurance. Please consider the following issues when choosing between the available options for 2008-2009. First, health service beyond general diagnosis of illness and treatment of minor accidents provided by The Wellness Center is not included in the comprehensive fee of the College. Specifically, all lab, x-ray, most pharmaceuticals, office visits and specialist referrals at the local health clinics/hospital are billed to your insurance company. Second, many home-based HMO plans do not provide adequate coverage outside of your home area. If you are considering study abroad options, these may not be covered under your current policy. The College strongly recommends that families, prior to waiving participation in the Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan, review their health insurance policies to ensure that their coverage provides equal or better benefits and that they are covered in the Northfield, MN area.

Two options exist for you in securing health insurance:

1. You may continue coverage that you currently have through your family (to do this, you must submit an online waiver form)
2. You may purchase insurance through the College (to do this, you must submit an online enrollment form)

The College will be working with Specialty Risk Group (800-513-3788). In general, the cost of the plan is $614 for the year (Aug. 15, 2008 to Aug. 15, 2009) Most benefits are paid at 80% after the one-time $100 deductible.

Highlights of the plan include:

• prescription card through Medco Health with copays of $10 generic and $20 brand, which has a $500 per condition maximum.
• covers cost for some immunizations
• deductible is waived if you are referred by staff at The Wellness Center to an off-campus provider

Contact Specialty Risk Group (800-513-3788) for general questions about the plan.

For those of you who are considering Intramural Club or Division III sanctioned athletics, the College Athletic Department purchases a separate supplemental insurance policy for their athletes to assist in covering injuries during these activities. That policy has a $500 deductible. This $500 can be billed to the student athlete’s personal insurance policy. If you purchase this policy, it will pay towards that first $500 of athletic expense, where your current policy may not. Again, please review your current health insurance policy to see if you would be covered.

If you wish to utilize your own insurance plan and waive the plan offered through Specialty Risk Group:

1. Review your current insurance plan to make sure you are covered while at college.
2. Complete your waiver information online to begin coverage.
3. Bring a copy of your health insurance card with you to Carleton for when you need to utilize health care facilities off campus.
4. Parents: Discuss your insurance plan with your child so they understand customary fees/procedures expected at the time of care.

Note: You can utilize The Wellness Center even if you do not purchase the plan offered here.

If you wish to enroll in the insurance plan offered through Specialty Risk Group:

1. Complete your enrollment online. The effective date of coverage will begin on the day after the premium is received.
2. To file a claim: pick-up a claim form at The Wellness Center or ACI website at: http://www.visit-aci.com/Forms/COM-08.pdf

Important: Students will not be allowed to register for winter classes unless The Wellness Center has received 1) the waiver information OR 2) the completed enrollment information.