Sept 09 2002

NEWS

Over The Edge _— 3

Healthcare at UNBC

Opting-out and other fun facts students need to know

By Andrea Larson

Students have been lining
up in order to opt out. This is
the first year of the NUGSS
health and dental plan and
students throughout the cam-
pus have no idea what they
get or how to get it.

The health and dental plan
is quite comprehensive, but
does not cover some of the
things that would
be expected. An
example of this

Students voted it

ly. Claims for other services
require filling out forms and
mailing them away for reim-
bursement.

Dental coverage depends on
whether. or not you dentist
belongs to the student care
dental network. Preventative
services such as cleanings,
checkups and extractions of
impacted teeth are covered
100% if the
dentist per-
forming the

would be in the in SO they should, services is

area of vision part of the
care. Eye exams for the most part, student care
and laser eye agree with it dental net-
surgery are cov- work.

ered, but glasses are not.
Some medications are cov-
ered up to 80% but to be sure
it is advised to check at
www.studentcare.net/works to
be sure.

Claiming prescriptions is
quite easy. With the presenta-
tion of the Pay Direct card to
most pharmacists the claim
can be processed immediate-

Overall most students seem
happy with the plan. As Niki,
Health Plan Coordinator
(NUGSS), put it “students
voted it in so they should for
the most part agree with it”.
Niki has been manning the
information desk and helping
students opt out of the plan.
Niki noted that for the most
part “people are pretty much

UNBC athletes and their mascot recruit new students during
Orientation Week.

understanding, but it’s pretty
inconvenient for some.”

For the most part the opting-
out process doesn’t seem to
be too complicated. In order to
opt out students with alternate
health and dental coverage
must bring in proof of their
coverage and fill out the form.
The whole process takes less
than ten minutes. As Tim of the
Chemistry program put it, “so
far it’s pretty easy.”

Other students aren’t so
happy. Some feel that students

Nathan feels that students with-
out coverage should also be

O-Week: Businesses
and community groups
introduce themselves
to new and returning
UNBC students during
the first week of class-
es.

who need coverage should,

have the option of opting-in
rather than the current system
in which those who don’t need
the service opting-out. Nathan,
a chemistry student, “[doesn’t]
agree with that method” and
would rather see an option for
those who just don’t want the
service to be able to opt out
even though they do not have
services else where.

One woman visiting the

Tim takes five minutes to opt

information table was interest-
ed in opting out as she has a
hard enough time paying for
MSP without having to pay
more on top of it.

For more information on the
NUGSS Health and Dental
Plan students can visit the
information table in the winter-
garden or visit the website at
www.studentcare.net.

ut of the NUGSS healt and dental

plan. The process is quick and easy, if you have the right papers.

Chris Drumm
Sales Consultant

Honda North
105 Brunswick Street

Prince George, B.C.
V2L 2B2

Sales: (250) 562-9391

Parts & Service: (250) 562-4744

Fax: (250) 562-5151
Email: info@hondanorth.ca