Contacts  |  Forms  |  Site Map  |  Home  |  NASA.gov

Current Fellows and Advisors

Insurance

Health Insurance Coverage

As a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, you are required to enroll in either ORAU's plan or to certify that you have coverage with another carrier.

Enrolling in a Health Plan Other Than ORAU's

You must provide the"Certification of Health Insurance" for the policy that will be used. Please provide the name, address, and contract number of the insurance under which you will be covered. To certify, you must:

  • complete the section labeled "Certification of Health Insurance" at the end of the Terms of Appointment document; and
  • provide either a copy of your health insurance card, or a copy of the front page of your policy which indicates the name of the insured and the effective date of the policy.

Enrolling in ORAU's Health Insurance Plan

An application form for the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) medical and prescription drug policy through ORAU is included in the award package. If you wish to enroll in BCBST, you must complete the application form and include the date the coverage should become effective. Please note that dental and vision coverage are not included in your ORAU health insurance plan.

»» Learn more about ORAU's Health Insurance Plan

BlueCard Worldwide Program

If you subscribe to BlueCross BlueShield health insurance through ORAU, you have access to a participating hospital network and referrals to doctors in major travel destinations throughout the world.  When you need to locate a hospital or doctor, you can call the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center at 1-800-810-2583, or call collect at 1-804-673-1177, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  You can also visit the BlueCard Worldwide Web site.

When you need inpatient medical care, call the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center, who will refer you to a participating hospital.  You will be responsible for the usual out-of-pocket expense (i.e., non-covered expenses, deductible, co-payment and/or coinsurance).  In an emergency, you should go to the nearest hospital and call the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center if you are admitted. 

You have the choice of using non-BlueCard Worldwide hospitals; however, you may have to pay the hospital directly and then file a claim for reimbursement.  Your out-of-pocket expenses may be significantly higher.  The BlueCard Worldwide Service Center will also provide referrals to doctors, but you will have to pay the provider and then file the claim for reimbursement.

Note that coverage under this policy does not include repatriation or medical evacuation benefits.