Sending a child off to college?

There’s a lot to consider when you send your child off to college. How to access health care may get lost in the shuffle. At some point, though, it’s likely your young adult will need to see a doctor or have a prescription filled while they are away. By taking a little time to prep your student, you could save time and confusion, plus save money by avoiding out-of-network costs.

Most college students opt to stay on their parent’s coverage through college. In fact, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows them to stay on that coverage until age 26. If your student is enrolled in your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas health plan while they are in school, here are a few simple tips to help the transition:

1. Download the BlueAccess® app. The app is the easiest way for college students to locate their health plan ID card, find plan details, view claims and locate doctors. Before downloading the app, be sure your college student registers for a BlueAccess account online. Dependents who are 18 or older and covered under your health plan can register their own profile on Blue Access by using their own name and date of birth, along with the identification number and group number displayed on their ID card.
2. Cover the basics. Your student should have a basic understanding of a few health insurance terms and amounts, such as copayments and deductibles. These amounts can be found on the BlueAccess app.
3. Know where to go for care. Many colleges offer student health clinics on campus, which provide basic medical care, counseling, and other resources. Most will bill your insurance for care. When your student receives care outside of campus, it’s important to choose in-network providers by using the Find a Doctor/Hospital tool online or on the app.
4. Understand how coverage works when outside the service area. If your student is attending college outside of Kansas, coverage is available through the BlueCard® Program, which connects providers of all Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans across the country. Find participating providers by using the app or at bcbs.com/find-a-doctor. This is a very important step because visits to an out-of-network doctor or hospital will be much more expensive, or potentially not covered at all, depending on your plan.
5. Choose a pharmacy. Use the BlueAccess app to help your student understand how prescription drug coverage works and to locate participating pharmacies. Students who take prescriptions on an on-going basis may want to consider using mail-order pharmacy through Express Script® Pharmacy, and have the medications shipped to them directly, saving time and money.

Save time and money with these two tips

For many college students, this may be the first time they have accessed the health care system on their own. These tips may help:

• Consider virtual care.  Students who don’t have access to transportation or who don’t feel well enough to travel to a doctor’s office can see a doctor virtually. Blue Cross of Kansas members have access to Amwell® virtual care 24/7 for quality care online. Virtual visits are covered the same as in-office visits under your Blue Cross plan. Find more information about virtual care online or on the Blue Access app.
• Emergency rooms (ERs) are for severe or life-threatening symptoms. The ER can save your life if you’re seriously sick or injured, but for less severe health issues, you will get faster and more affordable treatment elsewhere, such as urgent care. Help your student understand where to go, and when, with this guide.

Important information you need to know about HIPAA

When your dependent child turns 18, the privacy of their personal health information is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA. This means that health care providers and insurance companies are not legally permitted to disclose a patient’s medical record or even discuss their health status or treatment recommendations with anyone, even the parent of a young adult who is still on their parent’s coverage. Here’s what this means for you and your student:

• A release form is necessary for medical records. Your dependent child must complete a HIPAA medical information release form if they want a parent or guardian to speak with their health care provider or have access to their medical records. Your dependent child’s health care provider can provide the proper forms.
• A release form is necessary for access to claims and benefits information. If you call Blue Cross customer service with questions about your dependent child’s claims or benefits, we won’t be able to answer certain questions until we have a completed Release of Protected Health Information (PHI) form (#29-456) from your student.

The form is also available to your student on their Blue Access app, which is another reason your young adult should register for their own Blue Access account. Follow the prompts on the form to grant access and allow adequate time for the request to reach us.

We’re here for you.

We’re here to help your college student navigate the transition to college. Call us at 800-432-3990 if you have questions about helping your college student transition to adult care. Remember, we can’t discuss personal health information without a completed release form, but we can provide general information and guidance.