The ABA Law Student Division circulated this information today for graduating students who need health insurance:
Numerous graduating third year law students who are either currently unemployed or on deferred employment have inquired about the availability of health insurance from the ABA Law Student Division. For many of these law student graduates, their current health insurance will expire this summer and without employer health insurance, they will be uninsured for an indefinite period of time. Because health insurance coverage is important, we encourage you to pass along this message to your third year graduating law students.
The ABA Law Student Division health insurance plan with UnitedHealthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) offers a health insurance coverage extension for up to one year from the student’s graduation date PROVIDED the student is currently carrying this plan AND there is no break (lapse) in coverage between the date of graduation and the first day of this one-year extension.
Graduating law students who are not currently carrying this health insurance coverage with the ABA Law Student Division UHCSR plan may still qualify for the graduate extension by purchasing the last quarter of the health plan before graduating. Enrollment in the plan prior to graduation is an ABSOLUTE requirement of the carrier. Students may view the health plan benefits here.
For more information regarding this benefit and a pro-rated premium amount that will provide coverage for 12 months from the date of graduation, students may call UHCSR at 1-800-505-5450.
Two simple steps –
1. This program is offered to ABA Law Student Division members only. If not currently enrolled in the ABA – students may join by calling 800.285.2221 or visiting here.
2. If not currently enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Student Resources – students should sign up now while still a student and before graduation for the last quarter (90 days) of the current plan, in order to be eligible for the graduate extension. Eligibility requires being a law student – not a graduate; being enrolled in an ABA-approved law school and being a member of the ABA. Students enrolling (or already enrolled) must request the graduation extension which will expire one year from the student’s graduation date. Please keep in mind that there can be no break in coverage from the original plan and the extension. UHCSR will calculate a pro-rated premium for that graduation extension coverage. For a copy of the plan benefits, please visit here.
For more information, contact the ABA Law Student Division at ABALSD@staff.abanet.org
-Bridget Crawford
Update from the ABA:
In response to the April 22, 2009 announcement from the ABA Law Student Division regarding the availability of purchasing health insurance up to one year after graduation with UnitedHealthcare Student Resources (UHCSR), some law students were informed by UHCSR customer service agents that they were ineligible for the plan if they were not going to be actively attending classes for 31 days after the purchase of the insurance plan.
Although this is the eligibility requirement for initial enrollment, UHCSR worked with the ABA Law Student Division to respond to the growing number of graduating law students without employer health insurance coverage and agreed to waive the 31-day class attendance requirement through May 15, 2009. UHCSR sent notification to all its customer service representatives this morning advising them of this exception for the ABA Law Student Division plan.
Graduating law students, who are currently uninsured, may purchase the 2008-2009 ABA/LSD plan coverage prior to graduating or no later than May 15, 2009, whichever occurs first:
– Semi-Annual coverage before May 1, 2009; or
– Quarterly after May 1, 2009
Students who are insured under this plan on their graduation date can continue coverage up to one year past graduation.
Graduate extension coverage purchased after August 1, 2009 will fall under the 2009-2010 plan and the rates for the 2009-2010 plan will be available in the next month. Each student has a choice of one of the benefits plans. Plan I has higher benefits than Plan II. Make your selection carefully. You cannot upgrade coverage after the initial purchase of the Plan for the policy year. Please be aware that if you choose to change plans in any subsequent policy year, a new Pre-Existing Condition exclusion and waiting period will apply.
If you are currently insured under another UHCSR school endorsed plan, you cannot receive a refund on your school UHCSR plan if you choose to purchase additional coverage under the ABA/LSD plan
Since benefits may be different than your current plan, students may view the health plan benefits and enroll online at https://www.uhcsr.com/ABA. Please contact UHCSR directly at 800.505.5450 for specific information on the plans.
We apologize to any law student who was incorrectly advised he/she was ineligible and we encourage you to reconnect with UHCSR to purchase health insurance.