UPDATE – 2/10/2012 – Some surprising info about more universities requiring their students to carry some form of health insurance in order to attend the school. Michigan State University has teamed up with Aetna health insurance to offer their students more health insurance options.
University of Massachusetts Amherst students who receive their student health insurance through the school will have to come up with some money to cover the bill for visits to specialists that are not on campus under a new plan that was discussed earlier this month. The changes have many students and parents frustrated because they will have to pay 15% of the cost up to $5000 for specialty care as well as other services not offered at the campus health center according to Chad Cain’s article “UMass Students Rally Against Health Costs” on Gazettenet.com.
Basically, this co-insurance plan will mean that students who need specialty care such as orthopedics or gynecological care off campus will have to front some of the cost for the first time ever and this is not sitting well with the student body. The changes are set to take effect August 1st and will also involve an increase in the deductible from $200 to $250. Student leaders are fighting the changes as they believe this is unfair to struggling students who rely on free health care to make ends meet. The changes will especially affect women and students from low-income families.
One group, the Graduate Employee Organization UAW Local, are working extra hard to voice student concerns. They are currently petitioning campus legislators and holding rallies to gather support. Similar changes are rumored to occur at the UMass Dartmouth campus as well. UMass Amherst spokesperson, Daniel Fitzgibbons, makes the point that schools and companies across the nation are feeling the increased costs of health care and UMass is no different. Something has to be done to make the health care system on campus work effectively, and they believe this is the best option that will have the least amount of impact on the majority of students. The health center does not receive operating funds and all of their money comes from insurance companies and student fees. The annual fee of $654 all students must pay for the health care plan has not increased in five years which is impressive considering the fast rising costs of health care nationwide.
Written by Sam Tabes
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