Insurance FAQs

International Students

Domestic Students

What is covered by the George Mason Student Health Insurance Plan?

Provides extensive coverage at a reasonable cost on- and off-campus.
Provides coverage anywhere in the US and while traveling abroad
Includes worldwide travel assistance and emergency air transportation services
Includes dental and vision discount programs
For a complete plan description please review the Student Health Insurance Plan Brochure for George Mason University Students

How do I enroll in the George Mason Student Health Insurance Plan?

During the open enrollment dates, you can enroll online.

How do I pay for the insurance plan?

You pay when you enroll online. Click on the ‘Enrollment’ tab, follow the instructions, and pay with credit card or e-check.

When will I receive an ID card?

Aetna Student Health will mail you an ID-card once your enrollment is processed; usually, it takes about 10 business days.

How can I print a temporary ID-card or access my insurance claim information?

Visit Aetna Student Health, click on ‘Aetna Navigator’ and then the ‘Access Navigator’ link.
If you are already registered, log-on the Aetna Navigator secure member site.
I you need to register, follow the instructions for First Time User and select a user name, password and secure phrase.

What Doctors and other medical practitioners may I use?

DocFind will help you locate doctors, hospitals, after-hours urgent care facilities, dentists, specialists and pharmacies.
You may go to any provider you wish, but we recommend to use a preferred care provider because 80% will be covered.
If you will see a non-preferred care provider, only 60% will be covered.
Don’t forget the $200 annual deductible. The insurance company will start to reimburse you after you have met your deductible.
It is in your best interest to first seek treatment at Student Health Services (except in an emergency). By utilizing services provided by Mason, medical cost will be contained and it will help keep premiums at reasonable rates.

Will I need a referral when seeing a specialist?

No, the Mason insurance plan does not require referrals.

How will I submit a claim and where can I find the form?

Most preferred-care providers will submit the claim for you. But if your doctor’s office will not submit the claim for you, you may download claim forms online and click on ‘Help Center.’

How do I fill a prescription and is there a copay?

When you go to a preferred care pharmacy, you’ll be asked to pay your copay only ($20 generic drug and $40 brand name drug).
When you go to a non-preferred pharmacy, you will be asked to pay for the prescription in full. After you pick up your prescription, you will submit a claim to Aetna.

How can I find a preferred care pharmacy?

Click on the ‘DocFind’ icon on this link and search for pharmacies.

Will my parents’ insurance cover me while at George Mason University?

Maybe. We recommend that you inquire with your parents’ health insurance company. Please let them know that you’ll be a student at George Mason University and check that you will be covered in the Northern Virginia area.

I’ll age off my parents’ insurance plan while I’m here at Mason. When can I join the George Mason University Insurance plan?

Contact the Student Insurance Office for detailed information.

Generally, you can be picked up by the Mason plan immediately whenever the insurance coverage loss occurs, even if after the enrollment deadlines. Also, please check the eligibility criteria.

Note: You cannot enroll in the George Mason University Plan if you have lost insurance coverage for more than 30 days.

Am I eligible for the George Mason University Student Health Insurance Plan?

If you are registered for a minimum of 6 credit hours in the semester, you are eligible. If you graduate within the academic year, you may fall below 6 credit hours. If falling below 6 credit hours is a possibility for you, or you are a PHD student, please contact the Student Health Insurance Office to check eligibility.

Do I need to buy the George Mason University Student Health Insurance Plan to use Student Health Services?

No. All George Mason University students are eligible to see a provider at Student Health Services whether you have the George Mason University Plan or not. There is no charge to be seen by a healthcare provider, there are fees for some procedures, lab work, and medications. It is in your best interest to first seek treatment at Student Health Services (except in an emergency) because SHS is usually less expensive than doctors outside of Mason.

Where do I go for Urgent Care when Student Health Services is closed?

Use the DocFind search tool. Select from the drop-down boxes:
Provider Category: "Facilities (such as lab, walk-in clinics and x-ray)"
Provider Type: "Urgent Care Facilities"
Plan: "Student Health Plans"

To avoid the Aetna Student Health Insurance $300 Emergency Room copay, look for an Urgent Care facility that is not a full-service emergency room. Once you have a list of Urgent Care facilities, click "Provider Details" and read "Type of Services."

If you are admitted to the hospital from the emergency room you will not be charged the $300 Emergency Room copay.

‘Admitted to the hospital’ means sent to a bed and expected to stay in the hospital for at least one night, possible longer.

If I have questions, who do I contact?

You may contact the Student Health Insurance Office

Aetna Student Health’s Customer Service Department

at 1-800-878-1945.

Who do I contact if I have pharmacy/prescription questions?

Please call Aetna Pharmacy Management

at 1-800-238-6279.

International Students

What is covered by the George Mason Student Health Insurance Plan?

Provides extensive coverage at a reasonable cost on- and off-campus. Provides coverage anywhere in the US and while traveling abroad
Includes worldwide travel assistance and emergency air transportation services
Includes dental and vision discount programs
For a complete plan description please refer to the online Student Health Insurance Plan Brochure for George Mason University Students

Where will I pay the premium?

You pay your health insurance premium through George Mason University via Patriot Web because the premium is charged to your tuition account.

What is the George Mason University policy regarding F-1 and J-1 health insurance requirements?

http://www.gmu.edu/facstaff/policy/newpolicy/6002stu.html

How will I be signed up for the plan?

You’ll be automatically signed up for the plan by George Mason University. You will see a charge on your tuition account via Patriot Web.

Can I sign up dependents?

Yes. If you have the Mason Health Insurance Plan, you sign up your dependents online during the open enrollment period.

When will I get my ID-card?

For Fall enrollment, in late September , Aetna Student Health will mail permanent ID-cards directly to the student’s current US mailing address. Your Patriot Web account must reflect your current address in the beginning of the semester. If there is no current US mailing address on your Patriot Web account, you can not receive your ID-card.

I have lost my ID-card. How can I get a new one?

Request a new ID-card by using Aetna Navigator; you may also print a temporary card. Please check your mailing address for correctness. OR call Aetna Student Health’s Customer Service at 1-800-878-1945.

I already have insurance. Can I keep my own plan?

Yes. Please refer to the instructions for waiving the George Mason University Student Health Insurance Plan seen on the International Student Requirements page. Submit your waiver before the waiver deadline.

How do I know that my waiver was approved?

Please check your Patriot Web account. If your application was approved, the balance of the George Mason University insurance premium will be $0.

Is there a deadline for filing a waiver?

Yes. The Fall 2009 waiver deadline is September 22, 2009.

What happens if an international student fails to submit a waiver?

The student will be enrolled in the George Mason University Student Health Insurance Plan and will pay the premium charged to his/her tuition account.

Where do I go for Urgent Care when Student Health Services is closed?

To avoid the Aetna Student Health Insurance $300 Emergency Room copay, look for an Urgent Care facility that is not a full-service emergency room. Once you have a list of urgent care facilities, click "Provider Details" and read "Type of Services."

If you are admitted to the hospital from the emergency room you will not be charged the $300 Emergency Room copay.

‘Admitted to the hospital’ means sent to a bed and expected to stay in the hospital for at least one night, possible longer.

When should I go to the Emergency Room or the Hospital?

In the United States, many medical concerns are taken care of in doctor’s offices and emergency walk-in clinics, not the hospital or hospital emergency room.

Take advantage of the medical staff at Student Health Services for non-emergency concerns.

If you are seriously ill, please go to the hospital. However, please know that if you go to the hospital emergency room and you are not admitted to the hospital from the emergency room, you will be required to pay a deductible/copay of $300.

Admitted to the hospital means sent to a bed and expected to stay in the hospital for at least one night, possible longer.

I will graduate in either the Fall or the Spring. When will my plan end?

Your insurance coverage ends August 15, 2009, even if you graduate.

I will graduate in the Fall and will leave the US.

If you are enrolled in the Mason plan, you may apply for a refund. Please contact the Student Insurance Office. Please inquire about 4 weeks before you plan to leave the country or you might not receive your refund before leaving the US.

How does this insurance pay? How does it work?

Briefly stated, first you must meet your annual deductible of $200. This $200 is a cumulative total to any and all healthcare providers, outside of Student Health Services. After you have paid your $200 annual deductible, then Aetna will pay 80% and you pay 20% of covered healthcare costs, if you go to a doctor that accepts Aetna Student Health insurance. For more details please read the 2008-2009 Benefits Brochure.

Who may I contact if I have additional questions?

For questions regarding the George Mason University Student Health Insurance Plan, as well as for waivers, please contact the Student Insurance Office.

For questions regarding your status as an international student, please call The Office of International Programs and Services at 703-993-2970.

You can contact the Aetna Student Health’s Customer Service department directly at 1-800-878-1945.

Who do I contact if I have pharmacy/prescription questions?

Please call Aetna Pharmacy Management

at 1-800-238-6279.

Dental Care Options

What type of dental care is covered with Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan?

The Aetna Student Health Insurance plan for Mason students does not include dental insurance, but it does include a dental discount program: the Vital Savings Discount Plan. This plan gives students a 30-50% discount off of dental care if the student uses an in-network dentist. Both international and domestic students have used this discount plan with great success. The Vital Savings card (its blue) is sent to students before their insurance card. Students should carry both cards with them when seeking medical or dental care. To find a dentist or doctor who takes the Aetna Student Health Insurance or participates in the Vital Savings Discount Program, a student should use the “Find a Doctor: DocFind” tool located on the Aetna Student Health website.

Aetna Student Health does offer a Dental Insurance Plan to all students: Aetna Dental PPO Plan. Students have the option of taking this dental coverage during the open enrollment period. Many international and domestic students choose to add this option. Please visit the Aetna Student Health website to find out more about this option.

The Student Health Services has an Affordable Healthcare Options page. This page has information about local free health clinics, local reduced priced dental care (the NVCC dental clinic is popular), and reduced priced prescription drug programs.

The Aetna Student Health Home Page

DocFind: Provider Listings including Pharmacies, Hospitals, Vision, Dental, etc.

Insurance Terms & Definitions

Aetna Student Health’s Customer Service

at 1-800-878-1945

The Mason Student Insurance Office