Fellowship Support: Health Insurance Reimbursement

Most Fellows are responsible for securing their own health insurance coverage. Exceptions include Fellows hired and paid directly by an agency, as they receive health coverage via the agency under the temporary employee status provided by the direct hire fellowship. Fellows in most of the other programs are reimbursed for health insurance (this may not be applicable to some of the Fellows sponsored by other scientific societies).

Below are the 2008-09 maximum reimbursment amounts. Fellows eligible to claim reimbursement for health insurance costs (as detailed in the fellowship offer letter).

Individual = $5,155
Individual & Child = $9,653
Individual & Spouse/Domestic Partner = $11,144
Family = $15,162

Often the best strategy for health insurance coverage is to continue an existing health plan, if that is possible. Because Fellows are not AAAS employees, they cannot be included in the AAAS group health care coverage policy. For those who need to secure a new insurance plan, below is a short list of insurance providers in the DC-area, both HMO and non-HMO.

DCSTFI Group Plan
This group plan is administered by current and former AAAS Fellows. DCSTFI officers will make a presentation on 2 September 2008 to explain this option in detail. New officers and board members also will be recruited from the 2008-09 class of Fellows. Please consider volunteering!

DC Science & Technology Fellows, Inc.
1718 M St. NW
Box 169
Washington, DC 20036-4504
fellows_health@yahoo.com

Plan Administrator:
Todd Miller
Miller and Shook Co's
1422½ Q St. NW
Washington, DC 20009-3808
202-462-8930
tamiller@miller-shook.com

DCSTFI offers a plan through Carefirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield. For more detailed information about the plan, contact Todd Miller at the address listed above and/or attend the DCSTFI orientation on 2 September at AAAS. To obtain insurance through DCSTFI fellows must join the group. DCSTFI membership is free and benefits are available as long as you remain a member (i.e., you can purchase insurance through this plan after your Fellowship ends, if you desire, regardless of where you live).

Individual HMO Plan

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.
2101 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland 20852
1-800-574-3556
http://www.kaiserpermanente.org

Rates: Determined by type of coverage (individual, couple, or family), age, and location.

Indemnity Plans

CareFirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield of the National Capital Area
550 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20065
1-800-544-8703
http://www.carefirst.com

Comprehensive Major Medical with two deductible options ($300 or $500); 80% coverage, including prescriptions, after deductible (This plan is different from the Fellows' group plan because it is not a PPO.) To be eligible, the subscriber must live in the service area, which includes DC, Northern Virginia, and Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland. There is a 10-month waiting period for residents of DC and Virginia who have pre-existing conditions.

Rates: Determined by type of coverage (individual or family), deductible option, and age.

Assurant Health
PO Box 3175, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3175
1-800-800-5453
http://www.temporaryinsurance.com

Short-term Medical non-HMO; coverage for major hospital, medical, and surgical expenses; four deductible options ($250, $500, $1,000, $2,500); 80% coverage of first $5000 of covered charges, or 50% up to the first $5000, and then 100% thereafter up to 2 million; covers no dental care, vision care, or routine physical; plan cannot exceed 185 days; prescriptions can be applied toward the deductible if they are medically necessary and not for pre-existing conditions.

Rates: Vary significantly, depending on length of coverage, location, age, and deductible chosen.