Got Insurance? What Every Parent Needs to Know

(From a Student's Point of View)
A headline from the University of Florida campus newspaper boldly reads, "Insurance could be mandatory for college students." This article, outlining the importance of health insurance for all college students, evokes mixed feelings in many. As a Chico State Student, I am frustrated (as most of you are) by ever increasing tuition and fees. The idea of another daunting expense, even if it is for Health Insurance, does not excite me. However, when reading more about this mandatory student insurance policy which is sweeping the nation's college campuses, I find my reluctance waning.

According to the Commonwealth Fund, 45 percent of young adults ages 19-28 were uninsured for a period of time during the last year. Seeing as almost all of the American College Health Association's "Top 5 Impediments to Academic Performance" are health related; this is a scary statistic! If the main impediments to academic success are health related, and many college students are lacking healthcare, this translates to out of pocket cost for students. Students who can't afford these costs can't afford the treatment. They need to keep success their number one priority!

A large sector of Chico State Students have health insurance through you - the parent. For those students that do have their own personal health insurance, it is only a few lucky ones who have a doctor to go to in the area. Only a few luckier ones can see their doctors without having to pay a significant amount as copay, which is another major deterrent for our students who cannot afford it. For me personally, Kaiser is not available here north of Sacramento and I don't have the time nor funds to drive to Sacramento when I need or want to see a doctor.

For students who do not have personal health insurance, there isn't a safety net alternative - i.e. there isn't the assurance of a fixed price per visit or copay. When these students need to be seen (somewhere other than the Student Health Center), it can be a large out of pocket expense; thus creating a substantial barrier between students and available health care, pushing these individuals to wait to seek care until an illness affects their daily lives.

So what is the point to all this? Affordable and accessible health insurance should be available to all students! Take the time to discuss insurance with your student. Let them know what is covered and what expenses they can expect when scheduling visits. Help them explore resources, as well as ask the simple question, "Do you know what your Student Health Center offers?" At the Student Health Center we offer health insurance for those who do not have it and the Health Center is continuously exploring options to make this insurance fit the student's needs. For information on our services, hours of operation, and fees, please visit us at www.csuchico.edu/shs.

Please, make insurance a priority, talk to your student today.

For information on purchasing student insurance visit www.csuchico.edu/shs/health-insurance/index.shtml
Stephanie Dunbar, Chair of the Student Health Advisory Council and Health Educator