It's that time of the year. Sinus infections and the flu cause a widespread dearth in class attendance across college campuses and numerous students flock to their universities' health service offices seeking treatment for their ailments. Unfortunately for many, the seemingly simple process of getting a check-up is easier said than done.
Due to problems with the health insurance plans provided by colleges and universities, students increasingly opt to self-treat their sicknesses rather than go through the hassle of dealing with complicated insurance policies.
Tufts' Student Health Organizing Coalition (SHOC) is trying to change this trend.
Founder of SHOC Aaron Marden, a senior, argues that colleges' health insurance policies often do not provide proper coverage, and that many students who believe they are going to be covered end up with unexpected medical bills. He explained that the goal of the coalition is to educate students about health insurance so that they can become active participants in this national issue.
"SHOC's major goal is to give a voice to the students," Marden said.
Tufts' SHOC is the first group of its kind in the county.
Tufts Health Service Business Supervisor Mary Daley agreed that confusing terminology and complicated bills discourage students from fully understanding their insurance plans and other available options.
"Many college students are overwhelmed and confused when it comes to choosing their insurance company because it is their first time dealing with insurance companies independently," she said.
The Qualifying Student Health Insurance Policy (QSHIP) requires that every full-time undergraduate or graduate student in Massachusetts have health insurance; however, this plan does not ensure that all students have full coverage.
According to Andrew Cohen, the community research coordinator at Access Project, a national non-profit organization based out of Boston, students often have to purchase plans with little coverage because they want to keep their premiums low.
"Students are required to buy health insurance that has little value because it won't protect them financially when they need it most," he said. "[Marden] organized the first student group that is a strong advocate for better student health insurance plans."
Marden also wants to establish an improvement in QSHIP regulations, noting that although this might mean higher premiums, it would result in better care.
"I want higher standards for student health insurance plans," he said. "The current student health insurance policies are forcing us to buy a broken product."
Cohen also said that while state agencies enacted QSHIP in 1989 to solve insurance issues with out-of-state college students, the policy actually deters them from enrolling in Bay State schools.
"QSHIP can be a barrier to higher education for some aspiring students because they are required to buy insurance," he said. "What's worse [is] the less expensive the premiums are, the more likely students will be hit with high out-of-pocket costs if they get sick."
According to Michelle Bowdler, senior director of health and wellness at Tufts Health Service, insurance companies face complicated issues — especially when it comes to students — stemming from the constant struggle to provide decent services for the vast majority while ensuring that the premiums are reasonable enough.
Tufts currently offers Aetna Health Insurance to undergraduates at an annual fee of $1,389.
Daley agrees that it is hard to find an insurance company that offers both a low premium and great benefits; but she and Bowdler are confident that Aetna offers policies that benefit the vast majority of the community.
"[We] are open to changing the benefit levels, but remain cautious that this would also incur a higher premium and impact many students adversely," Bowdler said.
The high price of insurance is no small issue, and many students simply cannot afford to pay more for their plans. In response to these concerns, SHOC hopes to help students gain eligibility for the Commonwealth Care plan. This plan partially subsidizes insurance premiums for Massachusetts residents based on their level of income.
Generally, individuals with an income of up to $31,212 can benefit from this, but undergraduate and graduate students are automatically ineligible, regardless of their annual earnings. SHOC hopes to change that exception so that in-state students can profit as well.
SHOC is also fighting for a universal, government-regulated student health insurance policy. Currently, there are many different types of policies, and while some colleges have poor plans that offer few benefits, private universities like Tufts tend to have marginally better ones.
While SHOC aims to fix this inequality, Marden said that comparing the different policies is of little use.
"[It's like] comparing bad products to worse products," he said.
This week, SHOC will meet with representatives from the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy. Members will propose that students be eligible for the Commonwealth Care plan, and despite the unlikelihood of immediate changes, the groundwork will be laid for the future.
"[They hope the meeting] will establish a working relationship with the state agency, but demands are not going to be met [then and there]," Cohen said.
