RE: Health insurance billing

Hi All-
I'm glad to see that I am not alone. We have been doing the same thing
for over 20 years and always have a small number of students that wait
unil they are graduating to come in a let us know that they didn't want
or need the insurance for the last 4 or 5 years and that they were not
going to pay for something that they didn't ask for. We get all the
stories also and the real pleasant attitude with it.
 
As with any process, we just deal with it- we make deals, write off the
premium cost, or force the issue and require payment. Just depends on
attitude, my mood, payment history and whether a claim had been filed.
If a claim was presented-NO REFUND under any circumstances. Most of the
time we give back a pro-rated refund when we are notified and cancel the
policy at that point.
 
If anyone has a better solution-please let us all know.
Paul Tyler
 

* * * * * * * * * *
Paul Tyler, Jr., Bursar
Baldwin-Wallace College
275 Eastland Rd.

Berea, Ohio 44017
Phone: 440-826-2090 FAX: 440-826-3073
bursar@bw.edu <mailto:bursar@bw.edu>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

        -----Original Message-----
        From: bursar-l-bounces@list.mail.Virginia.EDU
[mailto:bursar-l-bounces@list.mail.Virginia.EDU] On Behalf Of Nichole
Lamb
        Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 4:00 PM
        To: bursar-l@Virginia.edu
        Subject: Health insurance billing
        
        

        Hello,

        Our school requires that all FT students are covered by health
insurance either through their own provider, or through the College's
third party insurer. Our process is that we send a bill for the cost of
the insurance to all enrolled students along with a waiver card. If
they are already covered, they simply fill the waiver card out and send
it back and we take them off the list. If they want to purchase it, they
send a check (or have us put the charge on their acct). We require this
by Aug. 2 so we can get a list to our insurance company and have
everything in place before the semester begins. The problem is that
each year for those that we do not hear from (after sending 2 notices
and even a last ditch effort by e-mail and extending the cut-off date)
we get those students we never hear from, so we automatically charge
their account and purchase insurance on their behalf (this is according
to our policy and documented in several places). We send them a bill,
and that's when the arguing starts...(and believe me - we hear it all!!)

        My question is - How do other schools handle the insurance
process? Are their other schools out there where this process is
handled in the Bursar's office and if so, can you provide any guidance
on how to improve this process? This is my second time through the
process and each year it gets better, but it is still a very frustrating
process. Sorry for the long-windedness and thanks for ANY advice you can
give!!

        Nichole Lamb

        Bursar

        Saint Michael's College

        One Winooski Park, Box #2

        Colchester, VT 05439

        802-654-2335
Received on Fri Sep 30 11:26:43 2005