Tea parties, Obamacare and “death panels” are just a few of the loaded terms that have been hurled back and forth in the voracious fight about health care reform. President Barack Obama wants a public option to compete with insurance companies, and Republicans call it socialism; politicians hold town hall meetings to conduct a dialogue with the public, and protesters show up with guns strapped to their ankles. In the midst of a shaky economy and uncertain job market, what is a student to do when it comes to realistic health coverage?
Although a variety of scenarios exist for students, general apathy toward health care in younger people is generally based on age-old youth fantasies of immortality: “It could never happen to me.” Plus, some loopholes are designed by insurance companies to make college health plans nary an affordable, adequate option.
First, are you a full-time or a part-time student? A large percentage of those under 25 are listed as dependent on their parents’ existing insurance policy, and most companies require students to attend school full time to be eligible. Second, are you within the existing coverage network? No, it’s not just cell phone companies who want to charge you for going out of bounds. If you go to school too far away, you could become ineligible for your plan. And as if the loopholes couldn’t seem more sleazy, some insurance options actually deem you as violating your full-time status if you have to drop out because of a serious illness.
The U’s health insurance option isn’t much better. Offered by GM-Southwest, the plan doesn’t cover a hodgepodge of assorted conditions: no vision plan, no organ transplants and if you’re transgender, it won’t cover any sort of medical cost associated with your gender identity. According to the U GM-Southwest website, undergraduate students at the U are eligible for the plan if they are enrolled in and have paid for six or more credits, and graduate students must be enrolled in and have paid for three or more credits. In order to remain eligible during the summer, you must have been enrolled the previous semester. Individuals who have to use a hospital outside of the “university provider network” are charged a $250 deductible followed by GM’s payment of 50 percent of your fee; families are charged a $500 deductible in the same scenario.
A friend of mine came down with a horrible fever and body aches during April. Worried she had swine flu, and unable to find transport to a “university provider network” facility from her home in Salt Lake City’s west side, she rushed to Salt Lake Regional Hospital where she was immediately quarantined in the emergency room as doctors performed a variety of tests. Turns out she didn’t have swine flu8212;she was pregnant. Regardless, Salt Lake Regional charged her more than $1,000 for tests she didn’t voluntarily submit to8212;after meeting her deductible and GM-Southwest’s supposed 50 percent “allowable charge.” Remember that $250 deductible? The fine print of GM’s policy states that in order to receive the benefit of the 50 percent of your bill waived, you need to pay a $250 policy year deductible, as well the full co-pay. Does that sound like unintelligible language to anyone else? Needless to say, my friend and her husband are searching for another plan.
Regardless of bureaucracy, loopholes, co-pays and deductibles, every individual deserves full and adequate health insurance. To ensure you are protected, if you ever do become ill or need an emergency visit to the hospital, look up a health plan that works for you and your budget. EHealthInsurance.com is a great website that compares quotes from a variety of plans in your area. Ask your parents if you are eligible to remain on their plan. If you have a job, get in touch with your employer to see what coverage you’re eligible for. Getting insured can be a maze, but it is highly preferable to be safe rather than sorry.
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