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Student Health Services & Accident Insurance

Upon payment of the health fee and submission of a completed physical examination form, students are eligible for the services provided by the Student Health Center on campus. Located in Henderson Hall, the Student Health Center offers medical care similar in scope to that given by general practitioners. Facilities include an inpatient ward, pharmacy, and x-ray equipment. A professional staff of nurses, technicians, and physicians is available to assist students.

The health services fee paid to the University, however, does NOT constitute medical insurance. This fee only provides for any minor care administered by the Student Health Services staff.

Mandatory Health and Accident Insurance Requirements

The veterinary profession has a variety of inherent risks such as animal bites, kicks, cuts, accidental injections, etc. Additionally, it is patently unfair to external preceptors to ask them to accept a student into their practice who does not have adequate insurance coverage. Consequently, in 1996 we implemented a policy of mandatory health and accident insurance coverage for all veterinary medicine students. This step has been taken to ensure that your best interests are looked after so that you or your family will not have excessive medical bills should you suffer an accident or injury while you are a veterinary student.

Students have three options regarding full medical insurance coverage:

  1. They may purchase a group plan offered by the University to cover hospitalization or medical treatment received apart from the Student Health Services. If interested in this plan, you may review the information at http://www.co.vt.edu/Risk/studenthealthinsr/index.html.
  2. They may wish to arrange with parents/family to be included in their plan. The university does not recommend specific policies or insurers; however minimum insurance policy requirements have been established to ensure minimum standards are met by all insurers. They are as follows:
     
    • Major medical benefits of at least $100,000 per insured per policy year or major medical benefits of at least $400,000 maximum benefit per accident or illness. (A basic policy for accident and illness with a maximum benefit or maximum lifetime benefit per accident or illness of less than $400,000 is not acceptable.)
    • There should be no exclusion of coverage for travel.
    • The accident and sickness insurance must be effective on the date an application and premium are received by the insurer with no qualification requirements and, assuming premiums are paid as required, be effective until the start of the next academic year.
    • There should be no pre-existing condition setup, which excludes coverage permanently under the policy. After meeting a satisfactory waiting period, all accidents or illnesses must be covered.
    • Deductibles should be no more than $1,000. While it is recommended that the deductible be per insured per year, it is acceptable to have no more than $1,000 deductible per illness or injury per insured with no cap on the maximum deductible paid out.
    • Benefits paid to a student under any plan prior to the student's initial policy effective date cannot be counted against the maximum benefit payable under the policy.
  3. They may purchase insurance from another company with the same minimum requirements detailed in option 2.

Students who do not purchase the university-sponsored insurance will need to provide a copy of their alternative insurance policy (insurance card and summary of benefits) to the Student Medical Insurance Office, 110 Student Services Bldg., Blacksburg, VA 24061. Office: (540) 231-6303. Fax: (540) 231-6237. Decisions about whether alternative insurance meets the university's requirements will be made by the Student Medical Insurance Office.

Note: you may not attend class without payment for the University group plan or providing documentation of a current alternative insurance plan that meets minimum requirements. In addition, non-payment will result in a "hold" being placed on your university record.