University of Southern California
 
2008 USC Network Policy Book

 

Health Benefits at USC

Medical and Vision Plans

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If You Already Have Primary Medical Coverage (Plan C)

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Q and A About Health Benefits

 

USC Network Medical Plan

www.usc.edu/go/uscnetwork external link

Under this preferred provider plan, the university has arranged for charges to be discounted with major hospitals, physician groups, and pharmacies throughout the United States. There is no annual deductible, but rather a co-insurance and/or co-payment associated with each health care encounter. The highest level of benefit is obtained when you consult a USC Keck School of Medicine faculty member and/or use one of the USC affiliated hospitals. This high benefit level is also available for all children under the age of nineteen (19) when they seek care from either USC, Blue Cross of California Prudent Buyer providers, and providers nationwide who participate in the BlueCard program.

A current list of USC Keck School of Medicine faculty providers and hospitals is available on the Network Plan's Web site at www.usc.edu/go/uscnetwork. A listing of Blue Cross of California Prudent Buyer providers is available on the Blue Cross Web site at www.bluecrossca.com, or you can pick up a request card for a Blue Cross of California Prudent Buyer provider directory at your benefits office. For participating BlueCard program providers, go to www.bluecares.com.

Hospital admission and outpatient surgery are subject to prior review and authorization. Outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies also require prior approval as do certain other services. (Please refer to your USC Network Medical Plan booklet for a full description of the Plan). It is your responsibility to insure that this prior authorization is obtained from BC Life and Health, the administrator of the prior authorization program for the Network Plan. Contact information for BC Life and Health is on the back of the insurance ID card.

 

Prescription Coverage

If a prescription is filled at a network pharmacy, your co-payment is 15% of cost, with a minimum of $5 for generic drugs; 20% of the cost of the medication with a minimum of $20 for brand name drugs when there is no generic drug available; 40% of the cost of the medication for brand name drugs when there is a generic available ($100 maximum co-payment for a 30-day supply per prescription for generics and brand name drugs without a generic available). Network pharmacies include the USC Pharmacy on the University Park campus and the Medical Plaza Pharmacy on the Health Sciences campus, as well as Sav-On Drugs, Rite Aid, Costco, Wal-Mart, Longs, and many independent pharmacies that have contracted with RxAmerica. If prescription is filled at a pharmacy that is not a network pharmacy, the Plan will reimburse 50% of the Plan's RxAmerica contracted rate.

 

Mental Health Provider Network

Mental health providers for the USC Network Medical Plan are the providers contracted with Blue Cross Prudent Buyer in California as well as USC Psychiatry and Psychology Associates (USC PPA). Those residing outside of California can access Blue Card participating providers. For inpatient care, BC Life and Health must be contacted at (800) 274-7767.

Outpatient mental health visits do not require prior authorization. The number of non-Network mental health outpatient visits paid at 50% of UCR (usual, customary and reasonable charges) is 40 in a calendar year. For children under age 19, outpatient visits are covered at 90% with USC and Blue Cross providers and 90% of UCR for non-network providers. Four courses of substance abuse treatment are available per lifetime.

 

Vision Care through Vision Service Plan
www.vsp.com external link

You and your dependents covered under the Network Plan are enrolled automatically for vision care with the Vision Service Plan at no additional cost to you.

Services are provided through thousands of optometrists who participate in the Vision Service Plan network of providers. The plan covers an eye examination every year with a $10 co-payment. It also covers corrective lenses each year and one pair of eyeglass frames every 24 months with a $25 co-payment. Plan benefit allowance of $105 can be used toward contact lenses in lieu of frames and lenses each year.

 

USC Network Hospitals
Los Angeles–Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Los Angeles–Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital

Los Angeles–USC University Hospital

In California–All Blue Cross Prudent Buyer Hospitals

U.S.A., outside of California–Participating BlueCard Program Hospitals

 

 

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