OUR VIEWS Consensus Opinion

The Board of Regents plans to institute mandatory health insurance for all students beginning in the fall of 2008. They will shop for a new insurance company to replace the current company, Pearce and Pearce. Currently, health insurance is only mandatory for some students, including certain graduate and international students. The move to make insurance mandatory for the entire student population will benefit Tech. Students who already have the required level of insurance will not be affected, as they are not required to buy it through the Institute; this gives students a choice, which is always good.

Often, college-aged people have no insurance, though they need it as much as any other age group. Not all students can keep insurance through their parents, and by getting insurance through the Institute they can get more affordable insurance than going out on their own. The Board of Regents shopping for the new plan with a larger pool of students at an overall lower risk since insurance is now required will provide students with more economically-friendly insurance options.

During the bidding process, the Board could keep several in mind to keep the new plan from being a headache for students, as the current plan often is. For instance, the current plan requires students to pay for their prescriptions at the Health Center and submit claims through tedious paperwork that can take weeks for reimbursement. As new bids are solicited, a company that offers a copay system instead of requiring students to pay up front would be a much better option for students.

On the other hand, students who use their parents' insurance plans should not be penalized for their choice. The new mandatory insurance program should have an efficient way for students to provide documentation of outside coverage.

Although it initially seems like students will have to pay more because of the new policy, it will actually help students. By making insurance mandatory, the additional cost will be included in the overall cost of attendance each year, which will allow the possibility of applying financial aid or scholarships to the cost of insurance.

With mandatory insurance included in the student fees, Tech may see a marginally higher retention rate. Unexpected, unaffordable medical emergencies will no longer force students to drop out of school for lack of money. Not only that, but the policy may also play a role in relieving another recent problem in the Health Center­-lack of available appointments and an influx of walk-ins. If every student has insurance, they may be more likely to choose an off-campus specialist rather than scrambling to get an appointment at the Health Center.