Insurance
All students are required to have comprehensive health insurance while attending Colorado College AND to provide annual proof of coverage. We have this requirement in an attempt to minimize catastrophic financial risk for students. Students may elect coverage under their own insurance, through their employer or their parents' policies, or the through the Student Health Insurance Plan offered by the college.
Our Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) insurance carrier and claims administrator for the 2022-2023 academic year are as follows:
- Insurance Carrier: Anthem (Denver, Colorado)
- Claims Administrator: AmeriBen (Boise, Idaho)
- Waiver/Eligibility Administrator: Academic Health Plans/Risk Strategies
The 2022-2023 Highlights Brochure has more information about the coverage provided in the plan. The SHIP covers most gender-affirming healthcare services, and you can find more information about this in this SHIP Transgender Benefits document.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
Colorado College SHIP participants have access to the following resources:
- Whether you are near campus, at home, in the United States, or traveling abroad, your student health insurance plan has you covered. SHIP allows you to seek care from Anthem's broad and robust network of providers wherever you are in the United States. See FAQs for more information.
- Anthem will waive co-pays for all diagnostic testing related to COVID-19. This policy will cover the test kit for patients who meet CDC guidelines for testing, which can be done in any approved laboratory location. Anthem will waive the member costs associated with diagnostic testing at any authorized location.
- Anthem has telemedicine services available through LiveHealth Online. SHIP members should use telemedicine as their first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices. To access begin here: https://livehealthonline.com/
- COVID-19 Mental health resource hub
We have joined with Psych Hub, a free digital hub to help our members with the stress resulting from COVID-19. This hub brings together a variety of resources to help members cope with social isolation, job loss, and mental health issues. - Aunt Bertha social support services
During this time, we understand members may need help with food, housing, job training, transportation, and other social support. We're partnering with Aunt Bertha to connect individuals and families to social services in their communities. Members can access these services by visiting Aunt Bertha and entering their ZIP code.
The 2022 Fall Student Health Insurance waiver/enrollment period opens on July 1 and closes on August 31. The 2023 Spring/Summer SHIP waiver/enrollment period opens on December 15, 2022, and closes on January 31, 2023. ALL STUDENTS MUST either enroll in or waive out of the school-sponsored plan by going to the Student Enrollment/Waiver Portal. Students who completed the waiver/enrollment process in the fall and are enrolled at CC for the spring semester will have their SHIP waiver or enrollment automatically roll over to the spring semester. Completing this process early will allow you faster access to your SHIP plan. Your student account will be billed the cost of the SHIP at the beginning of each mandatory enrollment period.
The cost of the 2022-2023 SHIP for annual enrollment is $3068. However, in order to keep healthcare costs lower for our students, the college will be utilizing Student Health Insurance Plan reserves to keep the premium charged to students the same as last year. This means that the premium paid by students for the full year will be $2,930, which will be billed by semester:
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Fall: $1225.00 charged to student accounts (CC covers $69.00)
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Spring/Summer: $1705.00 charged to student accounts (CC covers $69.00)Total Premium paid by students - $2930.00
STUDENTS MUST TAKE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS DURING THE MANDATORY ENROLLMENT/WAIVER PERIOD:
- WAIVE the Colorado College Student Health Insurance Plan by providing proof of a comparable health insurance plan. Once the waiver is submitted and approved, the student account charge will be reversed. See the waiver process below.
- ENROLL in the Colorado College Student Health Insurance Plan by following the online link and instructions below. You will not be enrolled in or covered by the insurance until the enrollment form is complete and approved, regardless of whether or not your student account was charged.
IF YOU TAKE NO ACTION DURING MANDATORY ENROLLMENT/WAIVER PERIODS, THE STUDENT ACCOUNT WILL STILL BE CHARGED. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS OR REVERSALS OF CHARGES PAST THE END OF THE WAIVER/ENROLLMENT PERIOD END DATES.
Once in the enrollment/waiver portal, select the link to either Enroll or Waive and enter the required information. The process will take just a few minutes to complete:
WAIVER PROCESS:
If you are covered by a comparable health insurance plan, you must submit a waiver to have the student account charge reversed. To be eligible for a waiver, your insurance must be considered "comparable" and meet all of the following criteria:
- Plans must include unlimited medical and prescription drug benefits.
- Plans must NOT have a pre-existing condition limitation.
- Plans must include the essential health benefits.
- The auditors will be determining whether your plan provides non-emergency (full coverage) in Colorado. If your policy does not provide full coverage in Colorado, your waiver may still be approved, but you will be notified of the coverage limits so you can take the necessary steps to obtain full coverage.
- Coverage must be active as of the first day of classes and remain active for the academic year.
- The Insurance Company must be owned and operated in the U.S.
If your plan meets the above requirements, you can enter the online Student Portal. Once in the Waiver Portal, follow the instructions and provide the requested information. Our insurance consultant, Specialty Insurance Solutions, Inc., will validate your plan and let you know if your insurance was approved or if they need further information. Once approved, you will receive an email from Specialty Insurance Solutions, Inc. Your student account will be credited the full premium amount.
ENROLLMENT PROCESS:
If you are not covered under a comparable health insurance plan, you MUST enroll annually in the college-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan. Enrollment MUST be completed through the online Student Portal in order for coverage to be activated. You will not be enrolled in or covered by the insurance until the enrollment form is completed and approved, regardless of whether or not your student account was charged. The DEADLINES to ENROLL ARE LISTED ABOVE. No refunds will be issued past these dates.
Once enrolled in the Colorado College-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan, students will receive an email from Specialty Insurance Solutions, Inc. with information about coverage dates and premiums, and from AmeriBen with information about how to log into the MyAmeriBen site to access their healthcare account information including their insurance ID card.
Colorado College has opted for a digital ID card. Your member ID card will be available on the plan start date. You’ll receive an email from AmeriBen once your ID card is ready to download. You’ll be able to email or fax it from your smartphone or computer. You can request a hard copy ID card by contacting Member Services at 1-855-258-6450.
Questions regarding either insurance waiver or enrollment may be directed to Kimberly Taylor, Student Insurance Coordinator at 719-389-6386 or by emailing Kimberly.Taylor@coloradocollege.edu.
USING INSURANCE AT THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER: As an established medical practice, Optum will accept most major insurance plans and will bill plans directly for services they deliver to CC students. Student insurance information will be collected at the time of visit and billing for services will be completed after the student is seen.