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Experience With The CSU Approved Health Insurance

( Names changed to avoid gifts/harrasment by insurance companies)

Rajnikanth

Insurance Policy: Bluecross
Cost: $1020 for two regular semesters ( Fall and Spring )

I had to undergo a major surgery about 2 years ago. I was treated as an in-patient at the expensive, St.Mary’s hospital in San Francisco. Just one week before the surgery, I called the insurance company’s call center number, and got the surgery approved in less than 3 minutes. All they asked me was if the doctor who suggested the surgery, had also approved it as a “necessary” surgery. Once I told them that I have the doctor’s written approval, the insurance company pre-accepted the surgery. The surgery bill came to a whopping $14,000 including everything from doctor’s fees, medicines, hospital charges, etc., etc. But, the result was that I spent just $50 as co-pay, and that was it! For the insurance claim, there is no concept of “how many number of days it takes for the claim”, since you never get to pay any of the fees by yourself. The insurance company directly pays the hospital. All you have to do is to pay the insurance company the co-pay amount. Hence, for a new student, I would very highly recommend going for the University’s health insurance. It is a little expensive, but a whole lot less painful to handle and to effortless to claim insurance. Trouble free!

Captain Haddock

Insurance Policy: Bluecross
Cost: $1020 for two regular semesters ( Fall and Spring )

During the summer of 2006, my fever touched 107 degrees in a day’s time. I was taken to a doctor in South Bay for all types of medical tests and eventually got bills in the range of $3,000. It did not include my medicine bill which was around $1,000.00. My insurance also covered “Emergency Room”, but I never got admitted in it. I had to buy "Prescription Insurance" to cover my medicine bill. The money part was the least stressful because everything was taken care by the US insurance plan.

Iris

Insurance Policy: ICICI Lombard
Cost: Rs28000 for two regular semesters ( Fall and Spring )

I got my insurance from ICICI Lombard in India. It was a little cheaper compared to what one would pay to buy the insurance from SF State University. The medical treatment in US is very expensive. I met with a car accident. I was treated at St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco. Though I was not injured much, it did cost me more than $5000 just for a few check ups. The hospital authorities accepted the insurance and said that they would contact the insurance company on their own. I was a little relieved to hear that. But the insurance company didn’t respond them at all. Then, I started getting letters from the hospital about the non-payment of the bills. I contacted the insurance company asking about my account. But they didn’t have any claim registered with them. It was the first time they registered a claim for me and assured me that it would all be taken care of by them. After a couple of months, I got a letter from the collection agency as the hospital had passed my records to them due to non-payment of bills. So, I cleared some of the bills on my own and again contacted the insurance company. Also, the insurance company does not pay the whole bill. One has to pay approximately $100 out of his own pocket for a $1000 bill. Thus, it involved a lot of trouble and waste of time to contact the insurance persons and talk to them on phone about the settlement of bills. Every time you talk to the insurance company, you get someone else on the call and you have to tell them the whole situation again. Also, filing the claim is difficult. Even if you file a claim, they might say it is not registered with them. They do not give any details about your own records with them even after you tell them the policy number. Considering the trouble and trauma that I have gone through with this insurance, I would not recommend this to anyone.