"KNOW YOUR RIGHTS"

Hi y'all, I'd like to share my experience with WellAway, Montclair State University (MSU), and the importance of standing up for your rights as an international student!

September, 2024:
My WellAway insurance policy was approved by MSU as part of the health insurance waiver process for international students. Everything was fine at the time, and I was relieved.

December 2024:
I received an email stating that my insurance waiver would no longer be valid starting January 2025 due to changes in the university's policy out of nowhere. The university claimed that:
1. The plan was not filed and approved in the United States.
2. Did not meet ACA (Affordable Care Act) requirements.
3. The plan was a subsidized federal or government plan (although it is literally private)
This was shocking and frustrating. I was ready to fight. So I did the following:

1. I reviewed WellAway’s documents, including the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) certification letter, which clearly stated that my plan met Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) requirements under ACA regulations.
2. I contacted WellAway, and their team, including their CEO, was incredibly supportive. The CEO sent a detailed email directly to Montclair State University, attaching the CMS MEC Recognition Letter and explaining how WellAway’s plans comply with ACA standards. The CEO also pointed out that the university's claim of non-compliance was baseless and discriminatory against international students.
3. I forwarded the CEO’s email and supporting documents to the university, specifically to the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) and University Health Plans. I consistently asked for clarification and questioned why my waiver, which had been approved months earlier, was now being denied.

After weeks of back-and-forth emails, persistence finally paid off. The university admitted that my waiver had been approved in error but allowed me to continue using my WellAway plan for the 2024–2025 academic year as a one-time exception.

I am extremely grateful for WellAway’s support throughout this process. Their team went above and beyond to ensure my plan was recognized and to stand by their commitment to international students. If you are an international student facing a similar issue, don’t give up. Gather your evidence, involve your insurance provider, and keep pushing for a resolution.

"My experience with this company's…"

My experience with this company's customer service team has been very positive. One representative, Ms. Ivana Gobbo, helped me with a specific claim, and a week later, she contacted me to follow up on my case, which impressed me the most because no other company calls you to follow up to check on you (at least that is my experience). And yes, I am satisfied with the coverage. Thank you.

"I had insurance with this company for…"

I had insurance with this company for five years and never made a single claim during that time. When I finally needed to use the insurance, they repeatedly tried to deny my claims, even though I was eligible from the start. I had to resubmit the claims multiple times before they were eventually processed. Their tactics felt like an attempt to avoid paying legitimate claims, which was incredibly frustrating and time-consuming. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this company.

"My 3-year-old had recurring ear…"

My 3-year-old had recurring ear infections, WellAway was able to find us an in-network provider, they scheduled the appointment and made sure the doctor's office had all our insurance information. They handled everything for us, we just had to show up. As expats who didn't know the American health system, it really helped and made the whole process easier.

"The way they treat me as a client was…"

The way they treat me as a client was excelent

"Excelente experiencia "

Muy buena atención al cliente , todo lo que debas saber sobre sus planes lo explican muy bien!

"Excelente"

I had a great experience. They covered all my medical needs during a complicated pregnancy abroad. The claims were processed quickly, and I never received unexpected bills. Fantastic customer service.

"Don't deal with these people"

They gave me three different reasons on why my claim was denied. they always looked for the next thing to say. Please avoid getting this insurance, we were forced to work with them by my wife's company but they are the worst insurance I have ever worked with.

"The customer support team was very…"

The customer support team was very quick to solve my issue.

"A special thank you to Elisa"

I only have positive things to say about my experience. A special thank you to Elisa, who has been kind, considerate and helpful to me - she went above and beyond to assist me and find a solution that suited my needs, which I am very grateful for. I can assure you that you will be in good hands with her!