Health Insurance
All medical students at U of M are required to have basic medical insurance. You can be covered under your parents' plan, by a spouse, or have your own plan, as long as you provide proof of insurance. For those of you who are not covered by a family member or lose your coverage, here is some information about some available health care.
UHS
UHS is the University-based health clinic located at 207 Fletcher Street on main campus. It offers routine health care to all students and their spouses and dependents (over 10 years of age) with or without an appointment. Most visits are free of charge, no copay required, regardless of insurance. Services that do require a copay include prescription drugs, immunizations, and optic care ($10.00). Spouses and family members of students are seen on a fee-for-service basis. UHS is a really nice facility and provides a wide range of services by MCARE providers. You can drop in when you are sick, or make an appointment for a specialist. General health maintenance exams (well-checks) are not free. All students, graduate and undergraduate, pay a fee each semester whether they use it or not, so go get your money's worth! The only catch is that UHS is only open during regular business hours but if you really need to go, no one on your team will stop you from going. For more information, check out their website or call 734-764-8320.
GRADCARE
GRADCARE is the health insurance plan sponsored by the medical school. With this plan each member chooses a PCP from among MCARE providers for their general care. This plan is very comprehensive, with coverage including optical care, mental health visits, well-checks, prescription drugs, and allergy testing, all for a copay, typically $10.00. Emergency care and hospitalizations are fully covered without a deductible. The downside is that GRADCARE is expensive. The cost for a medical student is $2125.00 per year or $177/month (you may purchase by number of months if needed). For more information, call GRADCARE at 734-936-0258.
MSA Student Health Insurance Plan-The Chickering Group
This plan provides a more affordable alternative to GRADCARE. With this insurance, students do not have a designated PCP, and go to UHS for their care when they get sick. It includes optic care, mental health services and prescription drugs for a copay. Emergency care and hospitalizations are covered up to $250,000 maximum benefit (unless the injury is incurred while participating in a riot-then you're on your own!). What this does not cover is dental, well-checks, and pre-existing conditions (unless you are switching directly from another health plan without a lapse in coverage). This option is much less expensive, at $1037.00 per year ($87/month). For more information, contact The Chickering Group at 1-800-242-3721, or UHS Managed Care and Student Insurance Office, at 734-764-5182. For those of you concerned about the lack of coverage for dental and well-checks, see below.
Planned Parenthood
Many women students are not aware that PP offers health maintenance at an affordable cost. They perform routine pelvic exams for anyone, regardless of insurance, and charge on a sliding scale based on income. For the average medical student living on loans, the cost for a pelvic exam is around $30.00. This is a good supplement to the Chickering insurance plan for women students who are looking to opt for the cheaper plan. For more information, call Planned Parenthood at 734-973-0155.
Dental
For those students whose insurance plans do not include dental coverage, the U of M Dental School offers services at reduced rates. For more information, contact the Dental School at 734-763-6933.
Employee Health
As a medical student (M1-M4), you have limited coverage by Employee Health. You are entitled to free annual flu shot or needlestick/body fluid exposure lab work (e.g. Hep C or HIV lab blood tests) but not much else. You do need a blue UMHS registration card for this service so go to the Taubman Center registration desks early on and get one!
Mental Health Consultation Service
This is a confidential service provided to MD, MD/PhD, and PhD Medical School students to assist students in receiving prompt psychiatric evaluation, brief treatment, and assistance in finding additional resources. The psychiatrists involved with the initial evaluations are usually not involved with medical student teaching. The program is free to students without coverage for psychiatric services but students with insurance that covers these services may need to submit information for insurance reimbursement. Call 998-676 M-F between 8-5 to arrange an appointment or else call the Psych ER at 936-5900.
Disability Insurance
UM Medical School is one of the few medical schools that pays for its students to be enrolled in a disability plan. This plan pays a monthly benefit in the event of disability, and also provides important options upon graduation from medical school. There are some restrictions on pre-existing disabilities and the type of disability. More complete information is available online.