Last Updated on 2023-06-24
Student Health Insurance typically includes Medical Plan, Dental Plan, and Vision Plan. International students are required to purchase Medical Insurance, but the school plan is not mandatory. Dental and Vision insurance are optional and can be considered for purchase.
For the 2022-2023 academic year, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) collaborates with UPMC, United Concordia, and Davis Vision for their Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans, with slight variations for undergraduate and graduate students.
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) partners with Highmark for their Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Employee Insurance
Faculty and most Postdocs have separate insurance coverage, and the enrollment periods may differ. For more information, please refer to the at Pitt Human Resources Office and CMU Human Resources Office.
Coverage Period and Enrollment Period
Student health insurance typically has specific enrollment periods and coverage periods. Mid-year enrollment or withdrawal is only allowed in the case of a Qualifying Life Event.
The coverage start date for Pitt’s health insurance plans was typically September 1st. While there may be options to enroll in medical insurance from August 16th to August 31st due to pandemic-related factors, it is recommended to consider filling the gap in August with travel insurance or international student insurance.
Spring 2023 Open Enrollment
December 19, 2022 – January 31, 2023 (new students only)
Spring 2023 Coverage Period
January 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023
2022-2023 Coverage Period
August 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023
醫療保險
Pitt’s medical insurance is in collaboration with UPMC and is primarily divided into two plans: the “Graduate Student Medical Plan” and the “General Student Medical Plan.”
Graduate Student Medical Plan
This plan is available for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, health science researchers, and their dependents. Graduate students who receive TA or RA scholarships are eligible for free coverage. While this plan is expensive, it offers top-tier coverage with low deductibles and coinsurance.
General Student Medical Plan
This plan is available for all students and their dependents. It is relatively cheaper but has higher deductibles and coinsurance rates compared to the Graduate Student Medical Plan.
How to select the university insurance for Pitt graduate students?
If a graduate student does not receive a TA or RA scholarship, they can choose between the “Graduate Student Medical Plan” and the “General Student Medical Plan.”Although the “General Plan” has lower coverage ratios, the maximum annual out-of-pocket expense is capped at $4,200. Considering the price difference between the two plans, opting for the “Graduate Plan” would require an additional $1,950 in annual premiums to potentially avoid a relatively low probability of $2,600 in medical expenses (which typically occur in cases of major illnesses or injuries). Therefore, opting for the “Graduate Student Medical Plan” may not be necessary for everyone.
The 2022-2023 premium for CMU’s medical insurance is $2,262.96.
CMU’s medical insurance primarily covers copayments for in-network medical services, with the remaining costs being covered 100% by the insurance company.
The in-network coverage includes:
- Deductible: $0
- Retail Clinic / Primary Care Provider: $25 per visit
- Specialist: $25 per visit
- Urgent Care: $25 per visit
- Emergency Room: $125 per visit
- Telemedicine (Amwell): $20 per visit
- Free outpatient mental health counseling
- Free chiropractic and physical therapy (Physical Medicine / Occupational Therapy, Limit: 30 visits)
- Diagnostic Services: $25 (basic) or $40 (advanced imaging)
Additional benefits include global medical coverage (Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core) and travel medical assistance (AXA Travel Assistance).
It’s important to note that CMU’s medical insurance does not cover facility fees associated with hospitals.
Dental Insurance
If you have had experiences with dental issues, it is strongly recommended to have dental insurance. Here is a comparison of insurance coverage versus out-of-pocket expenses:
- Free teeth cleaning and free dental check-up (out-of-pocket: around $200)
- Tooth filling (insurance: around $18; out-of-pocket: around $120)
- Root canal treatment + dental crown (insurance: around $500; out-of-pocket: around $2,000)
- Wisdom tooth extraction (expensive in the US, free in Taiwan)
- Dental orthodontics not covered
- Dental accidents covered
Both Pitt and CMU’s medical insurance plans provide coverage for dental injuries caused by accidents.
Pitt’s medical insurance is partnered with United Concordia. Any student and their dependents can be covered, and there are separate plans for graduate students and undergraduate students.
After enrolling, you can find the costs of all treatments in the Covered Services section on the United Concordia website. The prices for treatment are the same regardless of which provider you visit, except for additional discounts available at the Pitt School of Dental Medicine.
United Concordia Flex (Undergraduate)
While you can visit any dentist in the United States, the coverage may vary. The Pitt Undergraduate Dental Plan offers relatively standard reimbursement benefits. Depending on your individual needs, you can consider whether it’s preferable to choose a better insurance plan outside of the university.
The 2022-2023 premium for CMU’s dental insurance is $226.
The CMU dental insurance details can be found in the Dental Insurance Benefits Summary. Here are a few points to note about the insurance coverage:
- Deductible: $100
- Maximum Benefit: $1,000
- Even with In-Network treatment, you may still be responsible for 20% to 50% of the treatment cost rather than a fixed fee. Therefore, it’s important to ask about the pricing before receiving any diagnosis or treatment. You have the right to confirm the costs with the dentist or healthcare provider before undergoing any procedures.
Vision Insurance
Vision insurance can be purchased based on individual needs, and it is recommended to consider getting coverage if you have a need for contact lenses.
Coverage includes:
- Free eye exams (mandatory for glasses and contact lenses)
- Free eye tests for eye health and visual function, including fundus examination, depth perception, color vision, and peripheral vision (these tests are usually not covered under standard eye exams in Taiwan and require additional payment)
- Discounts on (contact and sunglasses) eyeglasses (-$100)
It’s important to note that vision insurance covers eye exams and vision-related services, but diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases are typically covered under medical insurance rather than vision insurance.
Pitt’s medical insurance partners with Davis Vision. All students and their dependents are eligible for coverage.
2022-2023 premium: $70.56
For CMU’s vision insurance coverage, please refer to the vision insurance benefits summary.
Other Choices
International students have the option to purchase other medical insurance that meets the minimum requirements of the university (CMU has specified minimum requirements, while Pitt has not). Some external insurance companies offer student-specific plans that are primarily price-oriented.
It is important to remember that you get what you pay for.
If you prefer to choose a plan outside of the university’s options that suits your needs, here are some recommended insurance companies that offer non-university plans:
- UPMC
- Aetna
- United Healthcare
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
Termination Option After Graduation
Graduation is a qualifying event for termination of insurance coverage. Therefore, even if you have only six months left until graduation, you can still enroll in the university’s insurance plan.
Graduation does not require mandatory termination of insurance. You can evaluate your future needs, such as employment or returning to Taiwan, before making a decision. In theory, even if a company, like a school, has a specific insurance enrollment period, the expiration of the school insurance (or loss of insurance) also qualifies as a “qualifying life event,” meeting the criteria for mid-term enrollment in insurance.
To make changes to the Pitt school insurance plan, you can refer to the Pitt Human Resources Office website for the process.
For changes to the CMU school insurance plan, you will need to email [email protected] to request the relevant documents. To terminate the CMU school insurance plan, you can fill out the CMU Termination Form online (although it is advisable to inquire via email first).
Excerpt from the CMU Termination Form
If you cancel the student health insurance prior to April 1st within the enrollment year and no significant claims have been made by you or your family members (including prescriptions, visits, and emergency care) that have been paid by the insurance company, you may be eligible for a prorated refund. The determination of significant claims will be based on specific circumstances.