STUDENT HEALTH AND INSURANCE GUIDE

CUNY Graduate Center

Student Health Insurance

and Selected Resources:

A Guide

The information within is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be an exhaustive review or to endorse, recommend, or otherwise favor any given health insurance plan or health resource option over another.

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

August 2006

Student Health Insurance and Selected Resources: A Guide

Table of Contents

Section A

Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 3

· A Note on General Costs for Insurance Coverage

· The Wellness Center/Student Health Services and The Psychological

Counseling and Adult Development Center.............................................................. 4

Section B

Insurance Policies: A General Overview................................................................................. 4-11

Section C

Details of Specific Insurance Policies.................................................................................... 11

The CUNY GHI Student-rated Policy for Domestic and International Students........................................................................................................................... 12-13

PSC-CUNY Adjunct Health Coverage...................................................................................... 13-14

National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS)................................ 14-15

NYU Stud-Dent Plan.................................................................................................................... 15

Section D

International Student and International Visitor Plans....................................................... 15-17

Section E

Commercially Rated Programs, General Marketplace, and

Membership Organizations that Offer Information and Other Plans........................... 17-20

Section F

Dental Plans…………………………………................................................................................................ 20-21

Section G

Vision Care..................................................................................................................................... 21-22

Section H

Local Health Clinics and Miscellaneous................................................................................... 22-23

THE GRADUATE CENTER WELLNESS CENTER: Room 6422.

212-817-7020

Wellness@gc.cuny.edu

2a. Wellness Center / Student Health Services is directed by Ms. Mary P. Clancy, who is a Nurse Practitioner, RN, MS, C-ANP. This on-site students’ health services office is for all enrolled Graduate Center students paying GC student activity fees. Staffed by a Nurse Practitioner and an Administrator Coordinator, Student Health Services offers a variety of services, including episodic treatment for physical ailments; health screenings; gynecological exams, male health exams, and other physical exams; birth control information; laboratory services (with a laboratory fee required); and confidential HIV testing and counseling. Virtually all services except for laboratory fees and some immunizations and vaccinations are free. Student Health Services also provides referrals to private doctors and clinics and conducts workshops (e.g., CPR, stress management, breast care) and health fairs. Outside laboratory fees are not free but may be partially covered by health insurance or by subsidies from the student government, the Doctoral Students’ Council (DSC).

2b. Wellness Center / The Psychological Counseling and Adult Development Center is directed by Dr. Daniel Rothenberg, Ph.D., and staffed by licensed clinical psychologists as well as by clinicians-in-training. The center offers short-term counseling, psychotherapy, and consultation and referral services to all enrolled Graduate Center students paying GC student activity fees. Services are free of charge and are offered on a confidential non-emergency basis, by appointment. In addition to availability during times of acute emotional distress, the counseling center is a resource for individuals seeking to mobilize creative strengths, acquire self-understanding, and explore alternative courses of action. Services and activities of the center include dissertation completion counseling, crisis intervention, counseling and referral for alcohol and drug problems, HIV counseling; stress management and relaxation counseling; and seminars and workshops that focus on the challenges of graduate student life and dissertation completion and on issues of personal transition and growth.

Section B

INSURANCE POLICIES: A GENERAL OVERVIEW

There are three basic types of health insurance available: publicly funded (e.g., Medicaid) or state sponsored (e.g., Healthy New York), affiliated or group, and individual. Public health insurance is low-cost or free; affiliated or group health insurance includes the student-rated plans GHI, NAGPS, and others as well as the PSC plan for CUNY adjuncts. Open-market individual insurance tends to be very expensive, as individuals do not have the power of a group to negotiate their premium rates.

I. Public Health Insurance Programs.

This is free or low-cost health insurance for individuals who are citizens or legal residents of the United States and meet certain income guidelines. Virtually all children in New York qualify, however, regardless of income or immigration status; adults must meet income requirements to qualify for coverage. Public programs do not recognize domestic partnerships, but individual coverage for two adults, if qualified, may cost less than some family plans that do recognize domestic partnerships.

Five different public health insurance options are currently available in New York: Medicaid, Child Health Plus (CHP A and CHP B), Family Health Plus, and the Medicaid Buy-in program for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD). All five programs are designed for families and adults who cannot afford health insurance and whose incomes are below a certain level, except for ChildHealth Plus, which is designed to insure every child living in the state, regardless of their parents’ income. For a list of enrollment and counseling services see http://www.nyc.gov/html/hia/html/public_insurance/enroll.shtml to help you determine eligibility. You can pre-screen for public and private health insurance at https://a069-webapps3.nyc.gov/health/mainpage.htm

· Family Health Plus. This is a program that makes comprehensive health insurance available at no cost to lower-income, uninsured adults who do not have employer-sponsored coverage and are not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. For more information call 1-877- 934-7587 or see www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/fhplus/index.htm and www.health.state.ny.us. Family Health Plus is offered by private HMO’s, so it may be wise to consult with an unaffiliated enrollment facilitator available at the New York CHOICE helpline at 1-800-505-5678 or at the New York City Department of Mental Health and Health Clinics: a comprehensive list of hospitals, health centers, and social service organizations that provide enrollment counseling can be found at http://www.nyc.gov/html/hia/html/public_insurance/enroll.shtml Enrollment facilitators and local social services district offices will help individuals to enroll and choose a health plan service provider (a variety are available in all boroughs and through a variety of insurance companies). For eligibility for Family Health Plus see table below:

Family Size	Maximum Gross Annual Income Guide Effective February 1, 2006.
Family Size	Yearly Income	Monthly Income	Weekly Income
Single Adult	$9,804	$817	$189
Couples with No Children	$13,200	$1,100	$254
Family Size 2*	$19,800	$1,650	$381
Family Size 3*	$24,900	$2,075	$479
Family Size 4*	$30,000	$2,500	$577
Family Size 5*	$35,100	$2,925	$675
For each additional person add:*	+$5,100	+$ 425	+$ 98

· Child Health Plus. This option provides health coverage to uninsured children up to the age of 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid. Premiums are on a sliding fee schedule according to family income; in most cases, premiums for all but the highest wage earners are either a few dollars per month or free. Parents can enroll their children in Child Health Plus and insure themselves separately if they do not qualify for public insurance. For further information, visit http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus/ or call 1-800-698-4543.

Child Health Plus A Final 2006 Income Eligibility Levels – Effective January 1^st, 2006
Age categories for Children	Monthly Income for Family Size
Age categories for Children	1	2	3	4	5	Each additional person, add:
Children under 1 year; pregnant women	$1,634	$2,200	$2,767	$3,334	$3,900	$567
Children 1-5 years	$1,087	$1,463	$1,840	$2,217	$2,594	$377
Children 6 – 18 years	$817	$1,100	$1,384	$1,667	$1,950	$284

Child Health Plus B Final 2006 Family Contributions by Income and Household Size Effective for applications received on or after April 1^st, 2006
Family Contributions	Monthly Income for Family Size
Family Contributions	1	2	3	4	5	Each additional person, add:
Free Insurance	$1,306	$1,759	$2,213	$2,666	$3,119	$454
$9 per Child per Month (Maximum of $27 per Family)	$1,813	$2,442	$3,071	$3,700	$4,329	$629
$15 per Child per Month (Maximum of $45 per Family)	$2,042	$2,750	$3,459	$4,167	$4,875	$709
Full Premium per Child per Month	Over $2,042	Over $2,750	Over $3,459	Over $4, 167	Over $4,875
Pregnant women count as two.

Note: Income levels change annually; this is just a guide.

*Parents/Guardians living at least with 1 child under 21.

· Medicaid. For individuals who meet certain requirements of income, resource, age, or disability. For information about eligibility and applications call 1-877-472-8411 or visit their website at http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/medicaid/medicaid.htm The city also has enrollment counselors at the New York Medicaid CHOICE Helpline at 1-800-505-5678.

· Student income and publicly funded health insurance:

Enrollment facilitators may be unfamiliar with how student income from fellowships and students loans are counted toward income eligibility requirements. The Children’s Aid Society (see below), however, is one facilitator familiar with student eligibility issues. Students’ tuition and fee awards, or the part of an award designated for tuition and fees, as well as tuition and fee amounts deducted from awards by CUNY before disbursement to a student, are not generally counted toward income when determining eligibility. Questions about classification of awards may be directed to the Office of Financial Aid. Note that eligibility for publicly funded healthcare is dependent upon your current earning status and assets. If, therefore, you are a student with a fellowship who may previously have been employed but are not currently employed, your application will be based on your fellowship stipend and/or assets, not on your expectation of possible future employment and earnings. Enrollees in either Family Health Plus or Healthy New York do not have to re-apply for a year. If you are a student new to New York, you would probably want to sign up immediately after becoming a student and meeting the requirement of being a New York State resident living in either New York City or Long Island. Also, keep in mind that if you are without coverage for more than 60 days, pre-existing conditions may not be covered.

· Enrollment Facilitators.

The Children’s Aid Society’s Health Care Access Program is not limited to aiding children. The society is dedicated to assisting low-income New Yorkers to enroll in the free or low-cost health insurance programs that are provided by state and local agencies, namely Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus. The program is funded by the New York Department of Health and works closely with the Mayor’s Office of Health Insurance Access (MOHIA). The Children’s Aid Society is a non-profit organization that assists clients in the application process and facilitates their choice from among the authorized health plans according to what suits their needs. In addition, the organization does troubleshooting to assist clients until they receive their insurance card. For further information call the Health Care Access Program (HCAP) office at (212) 503-6801.

Child Health Now Coalition provides information for families about how to enroll their children in New York State’s health insurance programs. For information please call the Children’s Defense Fund at 212-697-2323 or visit www.cdfny.org .

2. Dental-Plans

The Stu-Dent dental policy is offered in a consortium arrangement with New York University School of Dentistry. There are other dental programs that offer student rates and they are listed in the Dental Program Section of this memorandum (see pages 14 and 20) as well as one referred to in the NAGPS Plan (see pages 13 and 14).

3. Adjunct Faculty

Students who are adjunct faculty (teaching or non-teaching) may be eligible for health insurance through the Professional Staff Congress (PSC). (Please see Section C of this guide for more details.) Applications for this option are available from the Human Resources offices at each campus. Contact the PSC’s Welfare Fund for further information at 212-354-5230 or call your teaching campus’s Office of Human Resources.

4. Internationals and Visiting Fellows (postdoctoral scholars)

A number of policies are available specifically for international students and visiting postdoctoral scholars; these may be used by American citizens and permanent residents when they are traveling, studying, or planning research abroad. (See Section D, International Student and International Visitor Plans.) Visiting postdoctoral scholars are eligible to use some of these plans and must call the companies individually. Scholastic Overseas Services (SOS) is a membership organization that sponsors coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, plus other benefits, including an insurance program for students going abroad. This plan has specific coverage for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation with no other insurance option available. It may be used by internationals in the U.S. as an add-on benefit to any other coverage held. For all internationals a variety of policies exist, including the two domestic policies already mentioned as well as those offered by the Harbour Group, the HTH Worldwide Insurance Service, the International Students Organization, and others. Contact the International Students office for advisement on these programs at 212-817-7490. A comparison chart developed by the director of the office, Mr. Douglas Ewing, is available in Room 7200.

5. CUNY Review of Insurance Policies

The Central Office of The City University of New York (CUNY) reviews the policies from Group Health Incorporated (GHI) and the New York University (NYU) dental plan. International policies are usually reviewed by NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Students Advisors). The NAGPS (National Association of Graduate-Professional Students) plan is reviewed by the Student Resources Group. It is imperative, however, that any plan be carefully reviewed by each student and purchased on the basis of both one's health history and one's budget. (N. B.: This review information is provided as a service but is not intended to endorse particular choices or limit students’ consideration to the reviewed policies and agencies.)

6. Low cost care for those not eligible for public health insurance. If you are not eligible for pubic health insurance, you may want to look into the resources below:

· The Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC), New York City’s public hospital system, has hospitals and other health care facilities located throughout the city that offer care on a sliding scale based on an individual’s ability to pay. For information visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/html/home/home.shtml.

Healthy New York Income Guidelines
Family Size	Annual Household Income	Monthly Household Income
1	Up to $25,125	Up to $2,094
2	Up to $33,375	Up to $2,782
3	Up to $41,625	Up to $3,469
4	Up to $49,875	Up to $4,157
5	Up to $58,125	Up to $4,844
Each additional person	Add $8,250	Add $688
Amounts Effective January 1, 2006 Pregnant Women Count as 2 People

All HMO’s offer the same two benefit packages, one with prescription drug coverage and one without prescription drug coverage. Benefits are mandated, but premiums are unregulated and each HMO has its own network. You may therefore want to shop and compare among the different insurers. Mid-year fluctuations in household income and employment status will not result in termination of your Healthy NY coverage. The statute provides only for an annual recertification process. Qualified individuals are enrolled on the 20^th of each month and co-pays are $20. Also, Healthy NY offers rates for couples (but not to domestic partners), while most non-group plans do not. Although there are some limitations of benefits (no mental health) this program may be a good option. For further information go to www.HealthyNY.com.

For a complete list of prices and HMO’s available in your county visit http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/rates/html/hnynewyo.htm. A description of Healthy NY benefits is at www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hnybp.htm

8. Vision Care and Miscellaneous Other Insurance and Health Care Contacts

Please see Section G (Vision Care, page 21) of this guide as well as Section H (Miscellaneous pages 21).

9. The American College Association Insurance Plan

The American College Association Insurance Plan is another student-rated policy. Information on this policy is available via their website at www.acsa.com.

10. Insurance Policy Applications

Applications for some policies will be available in public areas near or within the Student Affairs office (Rm. 7301), the International Students office (Rm. 7200), and at the Wellness Center (Rm. 6422). Questions not addressed by company brochures or company representatives may be addressed to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at 212-817-7400. Claim forms are generally not necessary or may be obtained from the insurance company if needed. The brochures usually cover most questions that arise.

Please Note: The Graduate Center does not provide the insurance coverage, and is not responsible for the policies or actions of the insurance companies. We do, however, try to provide up-to-date contact phone numbers for agency representatives at the described companies. Students are not restricted to using any of the listed policies, but this list of companies should give students several practical examples of what is available in the marketplace. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the terms of the policies and, when in doubt, to phone the company (or their representative). Students will be dealing directly with their own insurance company after filling out application forms and sending these to the company of choice. If difficulties emerge with the GHI policy, CUNY Central Health Services office staff may be reached by phone at 1-646-344-7276 (available for consultation); and e-mail questions may be directed to grace.lu@mail.cuny.edu. Other questions may be directed to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at 212-817-7400.

One student who researched health insurance options in 2005 offered the following advice that may be of use as you review your options: If you qualify for a public plan, he explains, you may find that these plans are the cheapest and most comprehensive (some offer full vision and dental coverage) available to you: determine whether you and/or your children qualify; if you do, it may be your best option; if you don’t qualify for a publicly funded program, compare Healthy NY (this is especially attractive, he suggests, for couples or families who have enrolled their kids in Child Health Plus, as the GHI student plan has rates only for individuals and families) to the GHI student-rated plan. If Healthy NY seems like the best bet, see if you qualify. If you are uninsured, community health clinics (see Section H page 21) are still an option, he notes. Many of them offer services to the uninsured that are in line with the co-pays for Healthy NY ($20) and the GHI student plan ($27 for the academic year 2005 - 2006). (Remember, though, that without insurance you would be without coverage for hospitalization.) Consider, he notes, that it is often possible to enroll your child(ren) in Child Health Plus (virtually all children in the state qualify) and enroll yourself and your partner in a different plan, even if as a family you don’t qualify for a public program. The available group plans offer fairly similar rates and benefit packages, he advises. But in considering coverage and rate structure, keep in mind that the rate structure varies among plans. Couples may be able to get lower premiums with plans that have a “couples” rather than just a “family” rate. (All the plans offer individual and family coverage, only some offer coverage for couples.)

Section C

DETAILS OF SPECIFIC INSURANCE POLICIES

Please note that, of the plans available for your review, only two plans offer "student" rates to both U.S. domestics (citizens and permanent residents) and to international students. One is the GHI Student Policy (negotiated by CUNY as an option that accepts insurance applicants on the basis of student status for its students), which is available for all new and returning matriculated students who are taking six or more credits and who wish to purchase insurance near, on, or after its anticipated beginning dates. The other domestic plan is The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS) Insurance sponsored by Student Resources Group (see under “Associations” at www.studentresources.com). This policy is underwritten by the Gerber Life Insurance Company and includes two options (high and low); the higher payment cost option has a $200 deductible and the low/er-cost payment option has a $1,000 deductible. (N. B.: Remember

to carefully review any or all brochures before making your decision on any insurance plan, commercial or student-rated.) Also, note that the coverage type and premium information for the various heath insurance policies described in this guide follow the nomenclature used by the providers in their brochures and websites.

1. The CUNY GHI Student-rated Policy for Domestic and International Students: The GHI Program is an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) for matriculated students taking six or more credits. Any insured must choose a health provider/doctor from within an approved network of doctors. Books of providers and cd-ROMS with the lists of participating GHI doctors are available in the Office of Student Affairs and the Wellness Center; these are made available by GHI on a first-come, first-served basis. The lists are always changing as doctors are added or dropped from the list during the year. Currently, the plan offers two options: CUNY Option Without Prescription drugs and CUNY Option With Prescription Drugs. Note, however, that the cost of the prescription drug coverage is greater than the annual maximum calendar year pay-out of $500. It may therefore be preferable to use the option without prescription drugs, pay for prescriptions, and, if possible, take prescription expenses as income-tax deductions on the IRS long form.

Effective September 1, 2004, CUNY GHI student policies include coverage for 30 days per calendar year of in-patient mental health care. Please note that students new to the GHI Program will not have pre-existing condition coverage, as there is an eleven-month waiting period (unless the student has been insured within 60 days of ending another insurance program).

All applicants are now required to obtain from the Registrar’s Office of their home college a seal/stamp to be affixed to the revised GHI application form*.

For those registering very close to the deadline for this plan (on the last eligibility day, for instance), applications may be hand-delivered to GHI at 441 9th Avenue (between 34th and 35th streets) to the attention of Ms. Evelyn Marzan-Morales to help meet deadline date emergencies.

Rates for 2005-2006; [2006-2007 rates are forthcoming but were unavailable at time of this printing]

Option I without prescription drugs:

Individual: $ 497.04 per quarter $ 1,988.16 per year

Family*: $ 1,416.60 per quarter $ 5,666.40 per year

($27 co-payment per home and office visit; must use their doctor network.)

Option I with prescription drugs:

Individual: $ 824.61 per quarter $ 3,298.44 per year

Family*: $ 2,346.64 per quarter $ 9,386.56 per year

($27 GHI/CUNY co-payment; $50 deductible for prescription drugs; $500 annual maximum for prescription drugs; and one must use their doctor network.)

*The 2005-2006 Student Health Program brochure provides information on pages 9-10 regarding enrollment documentation for spouses, domestic partners, and children.

We have been assigned a GHI representative who can be reached in emergency situations, but in CUNY special calls are being taken by the Director of Health Services, Ms. Grace Lu 1-646-344-7276 at CUNY Admissions Services, who is the official liaison with GHI. Ms. Lu may be contacted by e-mail at grace.lu@mail.cuny.edu on more complex GHI questions, or when representative contact is needed. General information is also available at www.ghi.com/members/plans/city/m_pl_city_cuny.html.

2. PSC-CUNY Adjunct Health Coverage

The PSC pamphlet “CUNY Adjuncts: Your Rights, Your Benefits” (at http://www.psc-cuny.org/adjunctpamphlet.htm; currently being revised) offers the following information regarding group health insurance options (HIP or Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO) for teaching and non-teaching CUNY adjuncts:

You have the benefit of health insurance beginning in your third consecutive semester of teaching if you teach six or more hours CUNY-wide in that semester and have taught one or more courses during your first two semesters; non-teaching adjuncts must work ten hours or more a week for one year on campus to be eligible. Teaching and non-teaching adjunct work at CUNY can also be combined to secure health insurance. You retain this benefit as long as you teach six hours or work ten non-teaching hours. Contact your Human Resources Office to apply.

Because the Research Foundation does not offer health insurance for adjuncts, if a Department needs to shift an adjunct to the Research Foundation payroll, the Department is obliged to make every effort to only shift an adjunct who is not covered by CUNY health insurance. For questions about health coverage call the Welfare Fund at 212-354-5230. You are also covered by Workers’ compensation for on-the-job injuries.

COBRA. If you lose your health insurance because you teach less than six hours a semester or work under ten non-teaching hours, you may maintain benefits for a period under COBRA, the federal law which allows you to pay for coverage yourself at group rates for 18 months. If after one semester you resume teaching six hours CUNY-wide or working ten non-teaching hours, the Welfare Fund will restore your health insurance. If you are ineligible for two or more semester you must establish eligibility as you did initially.

Do not cancel any existing coverage until you have received official notification of coverage from the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund. For information regarding eligibility, please see the Human Resources Director at the college(s) where you are employed. If you are adjuncting at more than one college, the Human Resources Officer at each school must certify your eligibility. Certification and applications must be submitted together in the request for coverage.

Section D

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PLANS

These plans are written specifically for international students or visitors studying, doing research, or on educational business in the United States. A few are for U.S. students who are going to be living or studying abroad. For more information, please refer to copies of these policies which are available from the International Students office, Room 7200, on the 7th floor, or consult with Mr. Douglas Ewing or Mr. Paul Croser at 212-817-7490. (In addition to the information below, a comparison chart on International Student and Exchange Visitor Insurance developed by Mr. Ewing is available from the International Students office).

1. International Student Medical and Scholar Insurance Plan: This policy is a comprehensive $250,000 medical benefit plan designed for participants engaged in International Education Activities. It is underwritten by the Markel Insurance Company and arranged by The Harbour Group, L.L.C.

The Harbour Group L.l.C.

25 East Central Avenue Suite 4

P.O. Box 998

Springboro, Ohio 45066-0998

1-800-252-8160

E-mail: info@hginsurance.com

www.hginsurance.com

2. Global Student USA and Global Student USA Preferred: These policies may be used by visiting scholars as well as by students who are engaged in educational or research activities outside of their home countries. Both options are underwritten by HTH Worldwide Insurance Service. For further information, please review the brochures or contact the company at either of the following addresses. (The Preferred option has a higher level of benefits and hence has higher premium payments.)

HTH Worldwide

One Radnor Corporate Center

Suite 100, PA 19087

1-888-424-4325

www.hthstudents.com

3. International Students Organization: This company provides health plans including the following:

a. Compass Gold, Compass Silver, and Compass Bronze are plans for students, visiting faculty, scholars, and others who are currently involved in academic activity in the USA.

b. VIP Compass voyager for individuals up to the age of 40;

c. ISO Med 1 and ISO Med 2 for students, teachers, and exchange visitors.

International Students Organization

250 W.49th St, Suite 806

New York, NY 10019

1-800-244-1180

www.isoa.org

Section E

COMMERCIALLY RATED PROGRAMS, GENERAL MARKETPLACE, AND MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER INFORMATION AND OTHER PLANS.

New York State Law requires that all Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’s) offer two standard types of policies. One is the basic HMO plan, under which health coverage applies to care given by providers who have formed contractual arrangements with the HMO; these providers form a network that is covered under the basic plan. Care given by providers who do not belong to the network is usually not covered. The other plan is called Point of Service (POS), which has its own network of participating doctors. This is identical to the basic HMO except that with the POS option, one can choose a provider outside of the network and a portion of the cost will be covered. In other words, a POS provides one with more freedom to choose a provider; consequently a POS plan tends to be more expensive than the basic plan. There are also EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization) and PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) groups.

FOR REVIEW, ADD-ON POLICIES, AND COMPARISON SHOPPING:

· For a comparison of premiums charged by the different health insurance companies in your county, visit www.nyshmoguide.org/ComparePremiumRates.asp

· For a comparison of the performance of HMO’s visit www.nyshmoguide.org

1. Aetna Health. There are two levels of coverage; an HMO plan and a Point-Of-Service (POS) plan. A higher rate of benefit coverage is provided when the care is undertaken or arranged by a doctor from Aetna's network of providers. Rates are residence venue-specific. The month of enrollment represents the initial effective date of coverage. Questions can be addressed to 1-800-435-8742, or visit www.aetna.com

Coverage Type	HMO (monthly premium rates)	POS (monthly premium rates)
Individual	$663.21	$768.10
Husband / Wife	$1,326.24	$1,535.85
Parent / Child(ren)	$1,173.66	$1,359.24
Family	$1,971.13	$2,282.69

Premium rates for standard individual health plans July 2006. Rates may vary, to verify rates please call the company directly.

2. The Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring), a Membership Organization. This unusual, nonsectarian membership organization, offers a plethora of benefits to its members. Insurance options are available, including a dental plan, a basic hospitalization plan and a catastrophic coverage plan, but it is meant to supplement a regular insurance plan. For additional information, please contact:

The Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring)

45 East 33rd Street

New York, NY 10016

212-889-6800

Coverage Type	HMO (monthly premium)	POS (monthly premium)
Adult	$635.32	$1,106.75
Husband/Wife	$1,270.64	$2,213.50
Parent & Child(ren)	$1,143.58	$1,992.15
Family	$1,905.96	$3,320.25

Coverage Type	With Drug Benefits	Without Drug Benefits
Individual	$198.00	$174.24
Husband/Wife	$396.00	$348.48
Parent & Child(ren)	$356.40	$313.63
Family	$594.00	$522.72

Coverage Type	Personal HMO Plan (monthly)	Personal POS Plan (monthly)	Healthy New York (monthly)
Coverage Type	Personal HMO Plan (monthly)	Personal POS Plan (monthly)	w/drugs	w/o drugs
Individual	$612.63	$1,074.06	$227.13	$199.89
Parent & Children	$1,194.63	$2094.12	$431.55	$379.79
Husband & Wife	$1,225.26	$2,148.12	$499.69	$439.76
Family	$1,837.89	$3,222.18	$720.00	$633.65

Coverage Type	Quarterly Rate NY Region
Individual	$373.23
Family	$839.34