Starting next week, any Auraria student, faculty or staff member who is insured with Blue Cross/Blue Shield can access medical care at the Health Center at Auraria at “in-network” rates.

Effective July 1, the Health Center at Auraria will be an in-network medical provider for all Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BC/BS) health insurance plans. To celebrate the new access, the Health Center is offering all BC/BS members a waiver of their first office visit co-pay. BC/BS members whose plans do not require a co-pay will receive a coupon for a free fitness analysis.

“The timing of the Health Center at Auraria becoming a BC/BS in-network provider could not be better,” said Health Center Director Steve Monaco. “Given the economic conditions our constituents find themselves in and the ever-rising cost of health care, we are thrilled to be able to provide BC/BS members with their lowest-cost option for medical care.”

Monaco expects that the change will impact approximately 4,000 Metro State students who have opted out of the College-sponsored insurance plan and who carry BC/BS insurance. In addition, most Metro State exempt employee insurance options are through BC/BS. The state does not provide classified staff with a BC/BS option.

Monaco said a goal of the Health Center is to become an in-network medical provider for each of the major carriers in Colorado. “With the BC/BS contract now in place,” he said, “we have begun this process with one of the major insurance carriers in the state.”

Students, faculty or staff insured by BC/BS can either call the Health Center at 303-556-2525 (press “0” to get a receptionist) for an appointment, or simply walk in (Plaza Building, Room 150) to obtain a same-day appointment for an acute illness or condition. Questions about using the Health Center with a BC/BS plan may be directed to the same number.