Insurance

Health Insurance issues regarding blood and body fluid exposure should be directed to Student Financial Services.

All other health insurance issues should be directed to the Student Health Center.

Quick Links

• Student Health Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Professional Liability Insurance
• Life Insurance

Student Health Insurance

All degree-seeking students registered for 4 or more hours at Vanderbilt are required to have adequate hospitalization insurance coverage. The University offers a sickness and accident insurance plan that is designed to provide hospital, surgical, and major medical benefits. The Plan provides coverage for a 12-month period, August 12 - August 11 of each year. A brochure explaining the limits, exclusions, and benefits of insurance coverage is available at www.kosterweb.com.

Provided that you have equal or better coverage, you may waive the University plan by completing an Online Waiver Form at www.kosterweb.com no later than August 1. Although you will be charged automatically for this fee, your student account will be credited upon completion of the waiver form. The waiver must be completed annually.

If you waive the insurance initially and find that you need it later, you may obtain coverage by completing a petition-to-add form. You must also provide a letter from your insurance company that states the termination date of your coverage. Your student account will be charged at that time, and payment is due upon receipt of the bill.

If you are a current student who was not on the policy last year, but need coverage before August 12, please go to the insurance office at Student Health.

Dependent coverage is available. There are two ways to submit dependent enrollment information. You may complete an online dependent enrollment form available at www.kosterweb.com or obtain a form from the On-Campus Student Insurance Representative located at the Student Health Center. It is the insured student's responsibility to enroll eligible dependents each year.

This is an accident and illness policy. Elective procedures and preventive care are not covered. However, dental (www.basixstudent.com) and vision (www.enrollwitheyemed.com) discount savings plans are included in the Koster insurance premium. Please visit the respective websites for more information.

When the Student Health Center is open, you must first seek care and treatment at the Student Health Center. If the medical staff determines that you require the care of a non-Student Health Center provider, a referral will be made. In the event of a medical emergency, go to the hospital Emergency Department.

You are responsible for paying any outstanding charges after insurance has paid (other than blood and body fluid exposure). Do not ignore bills or they may be turned over to a collection agency, which can damage your credit. If you are unable to pay the outstanding charges and the charges were incurred at Vanderbilt, you may file a hardship form available in our office. If hardship is denied or the charges were not incurred at Vanderbilt, you may request additional financial aid.

Blood and Body Fluid Exposure

You will not be responsible for charges incurred for blood and body fluid exposures; however, an insurance claim must be filed. You should go to Occupational Health if an exposure occurs. If it is closed, you must go to the Emergency Department. You must make it known that you are a student, not an employee - Worker's Comp should not be filed. If you receive unpaid bills, bring them to Ms. Liz Berry along with the Explanation of Benefit (EOB) from the insurance company. DO NOT IGNORE BILLS.

Additional information about the student health insurance is available on the following websites:
Office of Student Accounts:
www.vanderbilt.edu/stuaccts/g_health.html
Student Health Center:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/student_health/

Long-term Disability Insurance

Medical students will be automatically covered with long-term disability insurance, required of all enrolled medical students, at the time of registration. The annual premium is payable in addition to tuition.

The Vanderbilt Long-Term Disability Plan provides a monthly benefit should you become disabled by sickness or injury. All students are covered under a group policy through The Guardian Life Insurance Company. Your coverage under this policy ends on the date your active full-time student enrollment ends.

Conversion of the disability income policy is possible if i) you have been insured under this policy (or a prior policy held by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, which this policy replaced) for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date your blanket coverage ends, ii) you are not eligible for new group coverage within 30 days of the termination date, subject to the terms and conditions of the certificate.

The benefit is payable for qualifying disabilities after an elimination period of 180 days is satisfied. The benefit is payable as long as you remain disabled, under the terms of the certificate, up to age 67.

Year	Monthly Benefit
1st year student	$1,000
2nd year student	$1,000
3rd year student	$1,500
4th year student	$1,500

The plan booklet is available online and provides additional information on eligibility for coverage, claim provisions, maximum/minimum monthly payment benefits, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.

Professional Liability Insurance

Medical students will be automatically covered with professional liability insurance, required of all enrolled medical students, at the time of registration. The annual premium is payable in addition to tuition. Details of the policy are available at the University Risk Management Office, and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these details and with their responsibilities in this regard.

Students are covered whether they are at the Vanderbilt-affiliated hospitals (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital, St. Thomas Hospital, or Baptist Hospital) or elsewhere as a "visiting student", providing that (1) the clerkship or other educational experience has prior approval from the School of Medicine as course work for credit, and (2) the activities within this experience are consonant with the student's level of training and experience and are performed under the supervision of appropriate faculty and/or staff.

Students needing proof of coverage should go to the Medical School Student Records Office.

Life Insurance

An optional life insurance program for all medical students.

The Medical School is pleased to offer our students the opportunity to purchase life insurance through The Benefit Planning Group, Inc., a nationally recognized firm that specializes in working with physicians around the country.

Sample Quotes for $500,000 Face Amount*

Male, Age 23-31	Guaranteed Annual Premium Super-Preferred Rates
Company	10-Year Term	15-Year Term	20-Year Term
AIG	$185	$205	$260
Genworth	$185	$200	$270
ING	$170	$200	$260
West Coast Life	$165	$195	$255

Female, Age 23-31	Guaranteed Annual Premium Super-Preferred Rates
Company	10-Year Term	15-Year Term	20-Year Term
AIG	$160	$190	$230
Genworth	$160	$190	$230
ING	$155	$190	$230
West Coast Life	$155	$190	$230

For More Information contact: The Benefit Planning Group (800) 225-7174 info@mybpginc.com * Quote estimates are based on super-preferred rates. Actual rates will vary based on medical condition and other factors of the applicant.