JHSPH Postdoctoral Fellow Benefits
Health Benefits through UHS
Postdoctoral fellows have access to UHS, regardless of enrollment in the Student Health Program (SHP) insurance. There is no charge for clinic visits for adult primary care and adult outpatient mental health services. However, additional services such as labs, x-rays, and medications will be billed to your health insurance.
Access to UHS services ceases upon completion of your fellowship, so you and your covered spouse/same-sex domestic partner should begin to make arrangements to establish with a non-UHS provider for primary care and mental health needs at least 90 days prior to completing your fellowship. Participants in COBRA Student Health Program are not eligible to use UHS services.
Health Insurance
Postdoctoral fellows are provided with health insurance through the Student Health Program (SHP). There is no cost to the postdoctoral fellow for individual enrollment in the SHP. Coverage for eligible dependents is available at an additional cost, which will be billed to the fellow’s student account.
If you are enrolled in the SHP, you can view your medical benefits at a glance on the EHP website.
Additional information on JHSPH policies and benefits for postdoctoral fellows is available on the JHSPH website.
Pharmacy Benefits
Participants in the Student Health Program (SHP) (group #E00016) are covered by Caremark Prescription Services (group #W7569999). The program has a three-tier co-payment benefit (generic, preferred brand, and non-preferred brand). Details about the cost of prescriptions in each tier is available on the EHP website.
If the prescribed drug is less than the copay, the member pays the lesser amount. No deductible applies to pharmacy benefits. Additional information about pharmacy benefits, including in-network pharmacies, are available on the EHP website. A cost saving mail order prescription program is available for the convenient purchase of maintenance prescriptions. Please Note: The prescription plan covers oral contraceptives.
Exclusions: Prescriptions are covered if written by a primary care physician or specialist with whom you have formally established care. Prescriptions written by a SHP subscriber for another covered person in the SHP will not be covered by the prescription program. Prescriptions are also not covered under the SHP if written by a blood relative or a family member living in the home. Some prescriptions require prior authorization by EHP before they can be covered.
Dental Insurance
Full-time postdoctoral fellows are automatically enrolled in the student dental plan administered by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. This coverage is for the fellow only and is not available to the spouse/same-sex domestic partner. Children under the age 19 who are covered by the Student Health Program medical insurance are automatically enrolled the CareFirst dental plan at no additional cost. Detailed information on the student dental plan is available online.
Vision Care
Postdoctoral fellows are allowed one annual comprehensive routine eye examination/contact lens evaluation provided by Wilmer Comprehensive Eye Service within the health plan year, which begins JULY 1 and ends JUNE 30. Appointments can be made by contacting one of several locations shown below. When calling to make your appointment, please notify the person scheduling you that your examination will be covered by University Health Services. Your name and fee for the examination will then be placed on an account to be paid by the UHS Benefits Office. If for some reason you get a bill, please notify the UHS Benefits & Billing Office immediately and submit the bill for resolution. Please note that the fee for the routine eye examination/contact lens evaluation is not paid by your Student Health Program (SHP) insurance and you should not contact or submit the bill to them. Eyeglasses or contact lenses are not covered by SHP insurance or by UHS. However, the Wilmer Institute Comprehensive Eye Service provides a 25% discount off of the retail price of prescription eyewear, frames, lenses, and lens treatments; 25% discount off all non-prescription sunglasses; and 10% discount off a year’s supply of disposable or planned replacement contact lenses.
Dependent vision care: Routine eye examinations or contact lens fittings for dependents under the age of 20 are covered under the SHP. Please refer to the insurance summary of benefits for specifics of services and benefits allowed or contact a customer service representative from EHP’s Student Health Program at 410-424-4450 for assistance.
The sites for the routine comprehensive eye examination/contact lens evaluations are:
- Johns Hopkins Hospital – 410-955-5080
- Greenspring Station – 410-583-2800
- Columbia – 410-910-2330
- White Marsh- 443-442-2020
- Bel Air- 410-399-8443
- Bethesda- 240-482-1100
Immunizations
Routine Immunizations: UHS offers routine, age-appropriate immunizations. Please note that the cost of immunizations is not covered by the health fee, but depends on your insurance coverage. Typically, the cost of these vaccines is covered in full if you have the Student Health Program (SHP). However, if you have health insurance other than SHP, please check with your insurance provider to determine your coverage.
Travel Immunizations: Travel immunizations are not covered by UHS or SHP. If you are traveling abroad and need immunizations, please contact the Johns Hopkins Travel and Tropical Medicine Clinic.