Health Insurance

Because all medical and dental treatment in the USA is private and very expensive, it is very important that everyone has insurance.   Winthrop University requires all international students, and their dependents, to maintain health insurance.  All major universities have a similar requirement.  The Winthrop University Student Health Insurance Plan (“Health Plan”) insures the student against major expenses accompanying an accident, illness or hospitalization. 

The Health Plan is administered by Pearce and Pearce, Inc. This company specializes in health plans for students and is the largest provider of student health insurance in the Southeast.  International students will be charged for their insurance twice a year, along with their tuition, housing and other expenses, and will pay directly to Winthrop’s cashier or on-line, as with the other University expenses.  Students should be prepared to pay for their health insurance by the first day of classes.  The cost for 2009-2010 year is as follows:

• Fall (8/15/2009-1/07/2010) is $434              
• Spring/Summer (1/08/2010-8/14/2010) is $635
• Annual (if you choose) is $1069

The Health Plan is most effective when the student goes first to Winthrop’s Health Services in Crawford Hall.   Health Services usually can provide the necessary treatment or service for free, but if they can not they will refer you to a local doctor or dentist, and assist you with transportation to that specialist.   When you go to the doctor or dentist your insurance will help you to cover the cost of that visit.   For full benefits of the Health Plan you must be referred by Health Services except you can go directly to an off-campus clinic or emergency room:

1. For a medical emergency go directly and immediately to the closest Emergency Room or Urgent Care Provider.  The preferred Urgent Care Provider is Riverview Medical Center (Riverview) at 1393 Celanese Road, Rock Hill, SC. 
2. If Health Services is closed (weekend, holiday or evening) and a serious illness or injury requires immediate treatment, go directly to Riverview.
3. If you are more than 35 miles from campus and need immediate attention go to a local Urgent Care Provider.
4. Dependents (spouses and children) that are not eligible for care at the University’s Health Services can go directly to Riverview.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you do seek medical care on the weekends or when Health Services is not open you must provide Health Services with information on the medical treatment you received off-campus as soon as possible in order to file a claim with Pearce and Pearce, Inc.

Winthrop University Health Insurance Plan Highlights-

• Winthrop’s Health Services offers office visits at no charge.   Some laboratory, pharmacy, or medical supplies/procedures will incur a minimal fee.  All charges are billed to the student’s Winthrop University account.
• A Wellness Benefit of up to $300 per policy year allows for health preventative services including vaccines and yearly physicals with no deductible. 
• There is an annual deductible of $300 per person (higher if dependents are covered) for health care provided outside of Health Services.  If you require care outside of Winthrop’s Health Services and your deductible is paid, your insurance will pay 80% of your expenses provided by the referred doctor or dentist. 
  • Example:  If you go first to Health Services and they refer you to a specialist doctor, who charges you $5,000, you pay nothing to Health Services and the doctor will send you a bill for $300 (deductible) + $940 (20% of $4700) = $1,240.  You also should contact Health Services who may be able to provide you with additional assistance for accidents or injuries.
• Your insurance will pay 80% of any medicine prescribed through Health Services up to a maximum of $1,000 per year. 
• The Health Plan will cover yearly dental check ups and basic x-rays, and discounts on other expenses.
• The Travel Assistance plan covers you all over the world as long as you are a student.  This would include expenses required to travel home for treatment, or even expenses for a parent to travel here if you are seriously ill or injured.   The Health Plan will cover sickness and injury while traveling anywhere in the world.   The only difference is that the student may have to pay upfront and submit bills to the insurance company for reimbursement.
• You will receive a full description of the Health Plan and questions can be directed to Winthrop’s Health Services.

Students are required to verify their insurance requirement with the Internatioanl Center at the beginning of each fall and spring semester.  We hold information sessions on health insurance at the beginning of each semester for those interested in plan updates.

Many students may have their own health insurance.  Listed below are the minimum required benefits that your personal insurance policy must meet in order to waive the Winthrop University policy.  If you have your own insurance it then becomes your responsibility to provide health insurance information to Pearce and Pearce for verification of insurance.  By submitting your name, the name of your insurance provider, their address and telephone number along with your individual policy number, your insurance coverage will be verified.  Once the coverage amount is verified the insurance charge will be removed from your student account.   

Minimum Required Health Insurance Benefits:

• Maximum Lifetime Benefits (Amount of Coverage) - $250,000
• Maximum Benefit per illness or injury - $50,000
• Effective and Termination Dates – Must cover the semester academic dates with no lapse in coverage.
• Repatriation of Remains - $10,000
• Medical Evacuation - $10,000
• Pre-Existing condition limitation – No more than 12 months
• Geographical Limitation – No restrictions to accessing health care services in South Carolina, domestic or international locations.

For more information on the Health Insurance requirement for all international students please the International Center.