When I started graduate school in August of 2004 I was required by the university to purchase student health insurance. They gave us the information on a company that provides insurance to students at a "discount" rate. The school is Wake Forest University in Winston Salem NC and the insurance company is student insurance (http://www.studentinsurance.net).
Here is the problem I've been having. I withdrew from school after about 40 days of classes for personal reasons. However, I had already paid the $1000 premium to the insurance company and before I withdrew from school I called the company to determine what would happen to my benefits. I was told that as long as I had attended classes for the first 31 days the insurance policy would be valid through August 1, 2005.
I ended up having some minor medical problems that required a biopsy and follow up screenings. The pathology lab that processed my results keeps sending me bills because the insurance company keeps rejecting the $490 claim. Every time I call up the company they tell me they need verification of eligibility to pay the claim. So I sent them the information they requested of me and they are still denying the claim, telling me they need more info to determine eligibility on this and another claim. The kicker is this: They have paid out on other claims filed after these ones!! Which means that I have met their "eligibility requirements" and they are just jerking me around because it is a large claim and they aren't making any money on me.
Here is the bottom line: I'll keep fighting them tooth and nail until they pay. But for those of you looking for insurance for yourself or your college student child, DO NOT EVER USE STUDENT INSURANCE.NET. They are underwritten by MedCost and have be incredibly difficult to deal with. They are extortion artists, trying to get money from already broke college kids.
