Health and Disability Insurance

IU School of Medicine requires health insurance because it is an accreditation requirement set forth by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the body that governs the accreditation of all Medical Doctor (MD) programs in the U.S. as well as schools in Canada and Puerto Rico. Below is information detailing the LCME requirement and the IU School of Medicine student health insurance policy.

In the United States, the accreditation status of programs leading to the MD degree is determined solely by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). In cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS), the LCME also accredits MD programs in Canada. To be accredited, programs must meet the national standards described in the document, Functions and Structure of a Medical School, found by searching that title on the LCME website.

For further information, refer to the Overview and Accreditation Procedures sections of the LCME site.

Health Services and Personal Counseling

Each school must have an effective system of personal counseling for its students that includes programs to promote the well-being of students and facilitate their adjustment to the physical and emotional demands of medical school. Medical students must have access to preventive and therapeutic health services. The health professionals who provide psychiatric/psychological counseling or other sensitive health services to medical students must have no involvement in the academic evaluation or promotion of students receiving those services. Health insurance must be available to all students and their dependents, and all students must have access to disability insurance.

For more information, see the Student Services section of LCME Accreditation Standards.

All students must obtain health insurance for inpatient and outpatient care. IU School of Medicine requires all students not covered by a parent or spouse, or a plan that meets comparable standards (outlined during open enrollment periods), to be covered by a policy secured by the school. It is mandatory in order to meet the accreditation requirement.

While most students are healthy and can likely find a plan on their own that might be cheaper than the school plan, there are still many students who do not qualify for personal plan coverage due to ongoing illnesses and conditions, so the school must provide a group policy. In order to be able to secure a group plan at a reasonable price that will cover all students, no matter what their health condition may be, the school must provide the insurance company with a stable group of both healthy and health-challenged individuals.

The accreditation requirement is in place for several factors:

• The protection of your own health, safety and well being is paramount.
• It is important to have quality insurance that is portable while on school approved electives around the world.
• A serious ailment or injury may lead to financial disaster, especially for students who carry large financial aid debts. The school allows waivers for students covered by a parent or spouse plan or comparable plan.

There was no formal contract signed by you regarding acceptance of the mandatory student health insurance policy. It is listed in the school handbook as part of the school’s requirements. Upon admission, students are given an outline of requirements, including notification to read and understand the student handbook.

This statement regarding policy issues is found in the Academic and Professional Standards section.

Medical students are preparing for a career that demands the highest standards of honor, ethics, and professional behavior and appearance. It is expected that medical students will conduct themselves according to these standards. Any individual who enrolls in the Indiana University School of Medicine voluntarily places himself/herself under the rules and regulations of the University, the School, and affiliated hospitals, and agrees to abide by them. Therefore, students should familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations affecting them.

Students are allowed to purchase their own plan during the open enrollment period as long as it meets standards set forth by IU School of Medicine. Waiving the school’s health insurance plan requires submission of documentation showing qualifying coverage under the policy of the student’s spouse or parent, or a plan that meets comparable standards.

Information regarding the insurance plan is available from Indiana University Human Resources.