CSU Health Network Care for Body and Mind

Quality health care that is accessible and cost effective is our primary goal. In the U.S., access to health care means having health insurance. It continues to be the goal of CSU to offer a health insurance plan with a comprehensive level of benefits that is of good value for students and that meets students’ specific health care needs. To offer a less expensive plan with lower benefits could compromise students’ health and the ability of students to receive quality health care in the Fort Collins community.

The student health insurance plan maintains the high level of benefits that the plan has always been known for and medical care providers have come to expect. There are additional benefits for charges incurred at Harshorn Health Center. Please see the Student Benefit Program on page 2 of the CSU Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan.

Payment of the health fee for all insured students is required by the insurance plan. This is an essential element for participation and utilization of health care and its costs. The following paragraphs further explain the relationship between the health service and the insurance plan: 

All full-time students at CSU are assessed semester fees. The CSU Health Network fee of $134.90 is one of these fees. All students who are enrolled in the CSU Health Insurance Plan and registered for less than six semester credits are assessed the CSU Health Network fee on a semester basis including summer if a student is enrolled in summer credits. Eligibility for the insurance plan is determined by CSU Health Network fees assessed on a semester basis. At the end of the add/course drop period each semester, a computer report is generated showing all students insured but not registered for six or more credits. At that point the health fee is assessed to all insured students registered for five or less credits. Because this report is not generated until after the add/course drop date, the semester health fee does not reflect on the student account until further into the semester.

To ensure that the highest level of medical care is available to CSU students and their dependents, CSU Health Network is the primary care provider (PCP) for the health insurance plan. The semester health fee allows students to have unlimited office visits with CSU Health Network staff physicians and nurse practitioners. CSU Health Network medical providers have a responsibility to refer insured students into community medical facilities only for treatment, evaluation, and testing that cannot be performed at this facility. This provides assurance that students are receiving high quality, appropriate care that is also cost effective.

Costs incurred at CSU Health Network for medical care over and above the office visit charge are much less than costs incurred outside this facility. For example, a specific laboratory charge may cost $22.00 at CSU Health Network and the same lab may cost $45.00 at Poudre Valley Hospital. Medical care provided at this facility can be provided at much lower cost than at other medical providers’ offices. CSU Health Network contains cost by requiring all insured students to access medical care at this facility. Students do not routinely have a relationship already established with a physician in the community when they arrive on campus and experience a medical emergency. CSU Health Network is the primary source for medical care for all CSU students; therefore, assessing the health fee to all insured students guarantees that a medical relationship is already established and that costs incurred will be contained.

The plan provides up to $250,000 maximum benefit for each accident or sickness, and a lifetime aggregate of $1,000,000

• CSU Health Network is the primary medical provider. This offers students convenient access to health care that is on campus, provided in a health center that is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc., and administered by staff that specializes in College Health. Costs for services, supplies, and pharmaceuticals at this facility are well below community rates and are paid at 100% to the limits of the supplemental benefit program. A student does not need money in his/her pocket to use this facility and can charge services not payable by the Student Benefit Program to his/her student account.
• There is a low deductable of $250 per individual or $500 per family per policy year for services provided outside of Hartshorn Health Center, e.g. referrals or emergency and/or urgent care. For further information on this, see page 4 of CSU Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan.
• The plan fully complies with all Federal and State insurance requirements.

• Read the health insurance brochure: Student Accident and Sickness Insurance.
• Ask questions of the CSU Health Network insurance staff: Call 491-5118 or visit with staff in Room 207.