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Welcome to Harvard! As you and your parents sort through the
important informational materials from the college, we want to
highlight one issue that arises each year.
Harvard University requires all students to be covered by a
policy of health insurance issued by a reputable insurance company.
There will be a decision about whether or not to waive the Blue
Cross/Blue Shield Student Health Plan. The college offers health
care to its student in two parts. These are summarized in the "To
Waive or Not to Waive, a Guide to Health Insurance and Waiver
Instructions" which is sent with the Student Health Plans packet.
As you make your decision to waive the BC/BS portion, Harvard
University Athletic Training Department recommends each
student-athlete to participate in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Student Health Plan of Massachusetts for the reasons listed below:
1. All team physicians, UHS, are hospitals and diagnostic
providers all participate with this insurance plan
2. Easy referrals process to area specialists
3. No authorization needed prior to MRI's.
A common example of what can happen if a student-athlete waives
the BC/BS of Massachusetts insurance. An injury is sustained which
requires an MRI/CT Scan etc via our team physicians for diagnostic
purposes. With the BC/BS insurance the medical team can
schedule an MRI within days at a local MRI facility. If the
student-athlete waives the BC/BS insurance plan he/she will need to
go home and use the facility that is covered by their insurance
company. This process delays the care we can administer to our
student-athletes and presents challenges in receiving any medical
reports. The same situation applies with respect to
surgeries, referrals to specialists etc. Therefore we highly
recommend all student-athletes to participate in the BC/BS of
Massachusetts insurance plan.
It is also important to acknowledge that:
Harvard University
will NOT act as a secondary provider towards medical
payment in the event of an injury/illness during athletic
participation.
All medical bills incurred by the student-athlete are
the responsibility of the student-athlete, parent(s) or
guardian(s).
There is comprehensive insurance information which is accessible
through the Harvard University Health Service's website, www.uhs.harvard.edu.
Also, there is specific student health insurance information at http://huhs.harvard.edu/PDF/HuhsWelcomeSheet.pdf
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