Hey all,

Does anyone have any experience with the healthcare AmeriCorps gives us? I'm not sure if it's the same across the board, but here we have "Beech Street" insurance and we're having a hard time finding information about our coverage. Our HR person isn't very helpful and their website is not easy to navigate... just wondering if anyone had any tips.

-Allison

Jarrod--another VISTA in my office--has had a lot of experience with the VISTA healthcare. He says that he's had to do a lot of paperwork after each doctor visit. To find out about coverage, he just called the number on the card. They told him pre-existing conditions aren't covered, and you can only get dental if it's serious.

Hmm. Not sure if that's a lot of help. You might also try getting in touch with your AmeriCorps contact person--whoever that is. Maybe John Vivian or Danette Martin.

From what I've gathered, VISTA members all have SevenCorners healthcare coverage, but State and National members get healthcare through their site or other sponsoring agency. If you're State or National, you probably need to talk to the agency that got the grant to have you if you want to get any info on your insurance.

The VISTA coverage isn't great, but it'll get you through routine stuff. The $5 copay is nice. I've never had to do any extra paperwork, my doctor's office just submits the claims and gets paid. Also, I've never had to pay a dime for a prescription medication as long as I get the generic.