Eligibility

Olin Health Center services are available to MSU and MSU Law students.* The first three medical office visits of each school year are pre-paid for enrolled MSU students. (MSU Law and Lifelong Ed students are not considered MSU students.) Additionally, the first three lifetime psychiatry visits are offered prepaid by the University for enrolled MSU students. Laboratory, x-ray, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry, medical supplies and medical/surgical procedures are not considered part of the prepaid office visit. Olin will bill for these charges as well as for the fourth and subsequent visits.

Unenrolled students (for one semester), Lifelong Education, and MSU Law students will be charged for all office visits. Visitors enrolled in University-sponsored programs and University employees with work-related concerns may be treated on a fee-for-service basis.

Olin Health Center will first bill insurance companies, and then bill the patient for charges not reimbursed by the insurance company. Patients not covered by insurance are asked to pay at the time of service.

* In addition, Olin provides services on a fee-for-service basis to adult family members of MSU and MSU Law students. The services provided to adult family members of MSU and MSU Law students are not a benefit as described in the September 12, 1997 Board of Trustees resolution regarding Domestic Partner Benefits.

Insurance

Medical insurance coverage is highly recommended for all students and can be obtained with a company of the student's choice, through the parents' insurance company, or through a special student health insurance program offered through the MSU Benefits Office. For more information about health care and health insurance in the United States, International students and scholars can refer to the OISS web page. International students with spouses and/or children in the US should refer to the OISS Family/Dependents Health Insurance web page for very important insurance information.

General Billing Information

• While the first three medical office visits per year are subsidized by the University for enrolled MSU students, there are fees for services such as laboratory tests, prescriptions, X-rays, physical therapy, surgical procedures and medical supplies.
• It is essential that you provide complete insurance information at the time of service or within forty-eight hours of the date of service.
• Your insurance company will be billed, and if you do not have insurance or if the insurance policy is with a company that will not reimburse us, a bill will be sent to you. You will be billed for whatever the insurance does not cover.

Billing Questions

• If you have a question about the bill or a general question about the insurance coverage, contact a patient accounts representative by calling the number listed on the bill.
• Specific questions about the health insurance policy covering the student should be directed to the insurance company.
• If laboratory tests are done, you may receive a separate bill from Sparrow Regional Laboratories or Sparrow Health System. These accredited laboratories process a percentage of the lab tests done at Olin Health Center. If you have a laboratory billing question, call the phone number on the laboratory bill.

Managed Care Plans - HMOs, PPOs, Etc.

Managed care plans usually require the student to be seen in their facility or by a participating provider and may not pay for services received at Olin. If a student is covered by a managed care plan outside the Lansing area, the plan may agree to pay for Olin Health Center services if it is approved in advance. Contact your primary care provider to receive advance approval for coverage of services at Olin Health Center. It is very important for students to have a clear understanding of what the insurance company will and will not cover while the student is at MSU.

Options for Uninsured Students/Community Health Resources Guide

MSU understands the cost for students' health-related expenses can be high. Because of this, the MSU Benefits Office has compiled a list of low cost or free health services in the community for those students with limited income. If you have questions, please contact the MSU Benefits Office at (517) 353-4434, or (800) 353-4434.