FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
• Why are students required to have medical insurance?
The BYU requirement for mandatory student insurance went into effect fall semester of 1989. It came about for two main reasons. First, the physicians and hospitals in the community had numerous complaints because students were not taking care of their medical bills. They would leave for spring and summer and not give new addresses and the providers didn't know what insurance they had or how to reach them. Secondly the fast offerings in this area were in the red because bishops were paying for the students' medical bills. While having health insurance is not only beneficial for health care providers and the church, it also protects students against the potentially high cost of unexpected medical care.
Return to Questions• I enrolled in a family plan online, and don't have id numbers for my dependents?
Email the Healthplan office with your name and student id number, and the name of your dependents, genders, and birthdates. We will put them on your Student Health Plan.
Return to Questions• I was charged for a previous semester/term of insurance, but I have private insurance?
You can waive the student health plan as long as your new insurance was in effect by the first day of class of the semester or term that you wish to waive. To waive it, please come to the 2 nd floor of the Student Health Center and bring the name of your insurance company and the policy number. If you are out of the area you may email healthplan@byu.edu include your BYU ID number along with the name, policy number and effective date of your private insurance.
Return to Questions• I graduated in June, after spring term, but I'm still being charged for the health plan?
You are eligible to keep it through the end of the academic year. If you do not want it, please come into our office and sign a paper saying that you do not want the coverage. Once we take you off we cannot put you back on. If you are out of the area you may email your request to healthplan@byu.edu with your name and BYU ID number.
Return to Questions• I'm graduating in the upcoming semester and don't have other insurance yet, can I continue my health plan?
You can extend the plan that you are currently on for a month at a time up to 9 consecutive months. Please come into our office by the tuition payment deadline to sign up for it. The prices are as follows per month:
1 single student only $109
1 single student with dependents $343
1 married student only $603
1 married student with dependents without maternity coverage for non-student spouse $900
1 married student with dependents with maternity coverage for non-student spouse $1,483
See handbook “Premiums per Month” page 8
Return to Questions• I'm graduating, but was not on the student health plan, can I get coverage?
You can only extend your coverage beyond graduation if you were already on the plan. The Alumni Association offers insurance for students that have graduated. Their phone number is 1-800-922-1245. See handbook “Extended Coverage” page 6
Return to Questions• I don't want the BYU health plan, I have a private insurance, how do I cancel it?
For new students for fall semester:
Prior to the last day to add/drop classes, you will waive it online through Route Y - Select/Private Health Plans under the School menu. Then select My Health Plans/Policies. Select View Policy then Request Waiver. Enter your private insurance information. Press the “Save Private Insurance Information”. It will bring you back to the same page, but it will now say “Current Private Health Insurance During Open Enrollment” at the top of the page. After the last day to add/drop classes, you will need to come to the Student Health Plan office, or email healthplan@byu.edu and include your BYU ID number along with the name, policy number and effective date of your private insurance.
For continuing students:
You will need to come to the Health Plan office. If you are out of the area you may send an email to healthplan@byu.edu and include your BYU ID number along with the name, policy number and effective date of your private insurance.
Return to Questions• I provided proof of private insurance through Route Y but my tuition bill still says I owe for the Student Health Plan. How can I get that charge off so I can pay my tuition?
Your tuition bill will not update. If you went through Route Y and waived the Student Health Plan you can disregard the charge on your tuition bill. Pay your tuition by the tuition payment deadline but do not pay the Student Health Plan charge.
Return to Questions• My husband and I are both BYU students. What plan do we sign up for?
If you both have at least 9 semester hours for fall you each need to enroll on the Health Plan for 1 Married Student ($378). See handbook page 4
• My husband and I are both BYU students and we have 1 child. What plan do we sign up for?
If you both have at least 9 hours for fall semester put the Health Plan in the wife's name and have the husband and child as dependents under option of “Married Student with Dependent(s) WITHOUT maternity Coverage for Non-student Spouse” ($1,184). This will give the wife maternity benefits because she is signed up as the student. The husband must then go through his Route Y and waive the Student Health Plan by entering DMBA-SHP and his wife's Student Health Plan ID as the policy number.
Return to Questions• I have private insurance but I still want the Student Health Plan while I am at school. Can I do that?
Yes. If you have 9 hours and you do not provide proof of private insurance you will be put on the Health Plan. When you go home during spring and summer terms you will need to notify us in writing if you no longer want the Health Plan. We will need the name and policy number of your private insurance.
Return to Questions• I am the student and want my wife covered only for one semester. Can I do that?
If you enroll any dependents on the Health Plan they must maintain coverage through the academic year. The only way we can remove them from the Health Plan is if they can show proof of private insurance.
Return to Questions• I signed up for the Health Plan but I have not received anything telling me I am enrolled.
The Health Plan office will send letters out about 1 month into the semester/term letting you know you are enrolled. DMBA will also send you a card with your DMBA ID#. If you do not get one after about six weeks into the semester/term call 1 800 777-3622 press 0 after the continue in English prompt and ask for the Student Health Plan enrollment team.
Return to QuestionsYes, on Route Y during open enrollment or your first semester here.
Return to Questions• I have a lot of maternity questions. Am I seen at the Health Center ? Is there a co-pay for every doctor visit? Do I have to pre-authorize every visit? When do we add the baby? Can we choose an outside pediatrician? Where do we have the circumcision done?
When you first find out you are expecting come to the Health Plan office and pick up a “maternity pamphlet" that will explain how to find a contracted doctor, it will explain the co-pays, percentages, and pre-authorization. We do not see ob cases at the Health Center . The baby is added when he/she has a birth date and name. Have the baby seen by the on-call pediatrician in the hospital then bring him/her here for the two week checkup and from then on. Come a few minutes before your baby's two week appointment and come upstairs to add your baby. We do circumcisions here. See handbook pages 15-16.
• Why is the Student Health Plan premium for a married student higher than the single student premium?
Because BYU is an educational facility and receives federal funds, like pell grants, we must comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act which prevents any health plan from discriminating based on gender. We cannot charge a married male less than a married female so in order to cover the costs associated with having a baby the premiums charged under the married student option are equally shared between the husband and wife. Also, it is not allowed under Title IX to exclude maternity coverage. Each year the premiums charged for each category on the SHP are actuarially evaluated by Deseret Mutual Benefit Association and set at a level that simply covers the costs associated with each category of the Plan. Since we are self insured there is no insurance company or other costs built into the premiums.
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