Comparable Coverage

Reed College requires that all degree-seeking undergraduate students have medical insurance coverage comparable to that offered through the school’s comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan.

If your health insurance won’t cover the following services, you cannot waive the college’s student health insurance plan.

Criteria

1. Is the plan active?
2. Does the plan provide access to healthcare providers for urgent and non-urgent services in the greater Portland area?
3. Is the plan ACA compliant? This includes:
   1. no pre-existing wait periods,
   2. covers 100% of preventive care,
   3. most ACA-compliant plans will cover all essential health benefits (basic list):
      1. ambulatory patient services,
      2. emergency services,
      3. hospitalization,
      4. maternity and newborn care,
      5. mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment,
      6. prescription drugs,
      7. rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices,
      8. laboratory services,
      9. preventive and wellness services, and chronic disease management,
      10. pediatric services, including dental and vision care.

Private insurance is comparable to Reed’s if:

1. The plan provides access to health care providers in the Portland area for both emergency and non-emergency conditions;
   1. Note: Plans that provide benefits only for emergency and/or urgent care do not satisfy the criteria. Likewise, if you have an HMO and the Portland area is out of network, your coverage doesn’t meet this criteria. If your HMO offers guest privileges in the Portland area, you can potentially meet this criteria by obtaining guest privileges. You must contact your insurer to receive guest privileges prior to waiving coverage.
      
      
2. The plan covers inpatient and outpatient mental health care within the Portland, Oregon, area (emergency-only coverage does not satisfy this requirement);
3. The plan is currently active, and you agree to maintain health insurance coverage throughout the entire academic year.