Benevides explained that students often do not
seek treatment because they can’t afford it and have
no insurance. Students who are sexually active and who do not
get
regular medical checkups or treatment, may be spreading infections
unknowingly.
If a sexually transmitted disease or infection is left untreated,
the condition may worsen and endanger one‘s future, causing
blindness, infertrility, even death.
At HPU, all full-time international students are required to
have full medical coverage. However, some students are still
unaware of what medical insurance is available throughout the
University.
Kaiser Permanente
According to Benevides, 600 to 1,000 students and dependents,
about 13 percent of the student population, have purchased
Kaiser membership plans.
HPU/Kaiser Permanente Health Clinic services are open to HPU
students enrolled at least half time and their dependents.
Also eligible for the health plans are students participating
in approved
HPU-sponsored programs, HPU visiting colleagues, short-term
scholars/professors, and HPU students doing Optional Practical
Training (OPT).
Services provided at the Kaiser Honolulu clinic include general
medicine, health education, internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology,
optometry, ophthalmology, pediatrics/adolescent medicine, surgery,
urgent care, industrial and occupational medicine, travel medicine,
personal health appraisals, and women’s health programs.
Specialty services are also available by referral from a Kaiser
Permanente physician.
For patients who are not Kaiser Permanente members, payment
is due on the day of service. A visit record must be turned
in with
payment to the cashier prior to leaving. A $15 billing fee
will be charged if payment is not made on the day of services.
Kaiser
will provide assistance in filling out claim forms to send
to other insurance carriers for reimbursement of medical fees.
Students who purchase a medical plan through Kaiser Permanente
can choose or change their Primary Care Physician (PCP) any
time and can schedule same-day appointments at any Kaiser clinic.
The Kaiser plan does not include coverage for drugs or vision.
HMSA-Three Plans
HMSA offers HPU students a basic medical plan and a comprehensive
plan that include drug and vision coverage. For both plans,
students would arrange medical services
with their own providers and, depending on the plan, pay a percentage, usually
about 20 percent, of those charges directly to the provider.
To be eligible for either HMSA’s basic or comprehensive medical plan,
students must be:
• Enrolled at least half time for fall 2004.
• Participating in approved HPU-sponsored programs.
• Doing OPT (Optional Practical Training).
There are also limits to coverage, even though students can
travel anywhere in the world and still be covered. See
hmsa.com/healthplans/student/benefits
for
more information on medical benefits. The quarterly rate is $192.75,
or $64.25 per month.
Students can enroll for the Kaiser Permanente Health Clinic
or HMSA services at any HPU campus registration center. |
