With or without it, students’ limited options for affordable care are tough to swallow
Emi Gardner
– Staff Writer –
Anna Nowotny
– InDepth Editor –
According to a CNN poll conducted in July, 65 percent of domestic voters cited the U.S. economy as their top concern. Today, the health care debate has taken its place. As uncertainty about the future of health care in this country looms, one thing is certain, the issue of affordability fuels the debate.
“Everyone’s worried with Obama’s health care reform, and they should be. It’s our tax money, and we want it to support us and our families,” Josh Creahan, STLCC-Meramec student, said. “I’d rather just fully understand several options before money is handed to complete strangers.”
One of those options is the plan offered by Anthem or United Healthcare Group. Upon the recommendation of the Missouri Community College Association, information and forms for student injury and insurance plans are now offered in Clark Hall. For international students who are required to verify a current health insurance plan and certify their coverage upon entry to STLCC, an alternate plan is available.
“When the MCCA set up the program it was hoped that community colleges across the state would endorse it and then make it a part of the students tuition bill. That way students who received grants or loans would have their tuition and insurance paid with the proceeds from their grant or loan and then get any excess money,” said Steve Brady, Manager of Meramec Campus Life.
No such plan is currently offered. Future offers are not pending for students at the present, but the issue is not off the table. “If more schools will join in on the same plan, then certainly we will endorse it because a bigger pool demands less individual cost,” Paul Pai, Ph.D, President of the Meramec campus, said.
While the MCCA has suggested the latest health insurance plan to community colleges across the state, a secondary concern exists among those same scholars: health care on campus. Even basic medical care is not provided anywhere on the Meramec campus since the clinic was closed in July 2008.
Most four-year institutions provide a subsidized health insurance plan as well as affordable health care on campus. Rachel Moser, UMSL receptionist for the Health Wellness and Counseling department describes the services. “We have lower rates for these services we provide; such as if they were to come in for a consultation, whether it is for starting medication, they’re sick, or they have cold/flu symptoms, free of charge. Lab work has charges, and what we pay the lab to do, we charge the students. Some complain of the charge, but at least we have the option available.”
Until the MCCA and the federal government make a decision, exercise responsibility when it comes to personal health choices.
