Regents provide far more for far less

Friday, August 24, 2007

A new student health insurance plan is now available.

The Board of Regents passed legislation last year to allow it to take control of student health insurance. The Regents convinced universities statewide to band together to create a single, comprehensive health care plan, said Diana Malott, assistant director of Student Health Services at Watkins Memorial Health Center. The board cooperated to develop a plan with lower premiums and more benefits.

The new Kansas Board of Regents Student Health Insurance Plan removes many of the spending limits of past student plans. Malott said the board made the changes to better reflect the needs of students. She said the previous plan allowed $250 per year for spending on pharmaceuticals; the new plan allows $1,000. The new plan does not include the previous $4,500 cap on outpatient surgery. The insurance will also pay as much as $100,000 per year per illness. There is also no spending limit on durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs.

Malott said that many limits in previous policies were unrealistic. As an example, she cited the previous limit of $300 per hospital stay.

“I’ve never heard of a hospital stay costing less than $300,” she said. “We basically removed all of those negative things from the old plan.”

Past policies also included separate plans for international students and other groups. The new plan is tailored to cover all students.

“The idea was keep one plan and keep it simple,” Malott said.

According to the new policy, the premium for year-long coverage is $960. Coverage also can be purchased for individual semesters.

Kimberly Guess, Overland Park senior, said students needed to be aware of their insurance options.

“A lot of people our age don’t even think about it,” she said. “We think we’re invincible, but the reality is accidents happen every day.”

Students can find out more about the plan by contacting Watkins Memorial Health Center or by visiting www.uhcsr.com.

— Edited by Jeff Briscoe

Regents may revise student health insurance

A new health insurance plan from the Board of Regents would decrease ...

/news/2006/sep/05/wallace/

Health care could affect student insurance

The new bill could allow some students to stay on their parent’s ...

/news/2010/may/05/health-care-could-affect-universitys-insurance-pla/

KU launches revised student health insurance plan

KU health officials say a new insurance plan will offer benefits for ...

/news/2008/aug/22/ku_launches_revised_student_health_insurance_plan/

Insurance essential but often unaffordable

Students without health coverage hope for changes in policy.

/news/2009/dec/03/news-insurance/

Health Tip

Whether you’re moving out or moving on, purchase health insurance

/news/2007/may/10/health_tip/

Graduates gamble on health insurance

One third of college graduates are uninsured after graduation; experts advise being ...

/news/2009/jun/30/health/

Pay now or pay later

/news/2005/may/04/news_campus_insurance/

The risk of going without health insurance

Because of high costs, unemployment or ineligibility many students are uninsured, putting ...

/news/2009/aug/27/health_insurance/

A guide to the proposed health care ...

A look at the health care bills that are being passed around ...

/news/2009/dec/03/news-health-care/

Forum teaches students about American health coverage

Students talked about their experiences regarding insurance companies and what must be ...

/news/2008/mar/06/insurance/

GTAs not satisfied with health insurance

/news/2005/apr/26/news_campus_health/

Some graduates in insursance limbo

Many insurance companies drop coverage after graduation, find out what you can ...

/news/2007/jun/13/some_graduates_insursance_limbo/

Two sides of healthcare

Health insurance is one of the major issues this year.

/news/2008/nov/03/two_sides_healthcare/

‘Generation Debt’ afflicting students

KU students are finding it difficult to foot the bill of increasing ...

/news/2008/may/07/generation_debt_afflicting_students/

University plans for new School of Public ...

The school would be one of around 40 public health schools in ...

/news/2010/nov/09/university-plans-new-school-public-health/

Willbanks: Life without insurance

Individuals share their stories dealing with personal health care issues.

/news/2009/dec/03/willbanks-life-without-insurance/

Governor’s departure poses problems

Sebelius’ acceptance of HHS secretary leaves Kansas’ future and Obama’s health care ...

/news/2009/mar/03/governors_departure/

Politically Correct: The public option

Columnists weigh in on the health care debate.

/news/2009/oct/27/public-option/

Proposal aims to shorten the school year ...

For the policy to change, other sate universities will have to support ...

/news/2008/feb/27/proposal_request_shorter_school_year_kansas_univer/

Dining Services offer unlimited meal plan

Students have until 5 p.m. on Friday to change to a less ...

/news/2011/aug/31/dining-plans/

KU Hospital and KU Med near agreement

Concerns of St. Luke's receiving an unfair advantage with the talked-about affiliation ...

/news/2007/mar/28/hospital/

Leaving a lasting legacy

As Hemenway prepares to retire, he and others look back at how ...

/news/2009/may/04/leaving_legacy/

Editorial: Sebelius’ experience will help as Secretary ...

The governor will do more good in Washington than she could have ...

/news/2009/mar/09/editorial_sebelius/

Overworked students' dangerous race against time

Is too much work and too little time putting students' health at ...

/news/2011/apr/28/time-not-our-side/

HPV vaccine approved for use in men

Watkins Health Center plans to order Human Papillomavirus vaccines for men who ...

/news/2009/oct/28/hpv/

Up a creek without an inhaler

Individual stories about personal health care experiences.

/news/2009/dec/03/tallman-creek-without-inhaler/

Female gynecologist comes to Watkins

/news/2005/aug/26/gynecologist/

Platt: Affording the unaffordable

Individual stories relating to health care.

/news/2009/dec/03/platt-affording-unaffordable/

Oral contraceptive prices on the rise

Changes in federal laws have made it hard for colleges to offer ...

/news/2010/oct/26/contraceptive-prices/

Campus fees generate more than $20 million

Student Senate finance committee reviews funds to determine what will might face ...

/news/2009/dec/10/campus-fees-generate-more-20-million/

Affordable Care Act insures young adults

The Affordable Care Act has caused an increase in the amount of ...

/news/2011/sep/21/act-insures/

Editorial: New Hemenway salary too much

The Regents need to adjust former chancellor's salary or explain why it ...

/news/2009/sep/17/Hemenway_salary/

Students show indifference in health care

Young adults have yet to play active role in rallies, heated discussions.

/news/2009/oct/02/indifference/

Capitol hosts graduate research

Graduate students from state universities present their findings on cancer, environment and ...

/news/2009/mar/13/capitol/

University Senate considers offering financial aid program ...

A University Senate task force is finding a way to offer the ...

/news/2010/oct/17/senex-considers-offering-financial-aid-program-fac/

Editorial: Health care reform and students

Students should consider impact of health care legislation.

/news/2009/nov/16/editorial-health-care-reform-and-students/

LMH sees increase in alcohol-related visits

KU students make up a major portion of hospital's alcohol abuse admissions.

/news/2010/feb/16/lmh-sees-increase/

Birth control prices could decrease

A new law opens up the possibility for lower prices on birth ...

/news/2009/apr/20/birth_control/

Static faculty salaries amount to pay cuts

Faculty and staff face the looming possibility of a third consecutive year ...

/news/2010/nov/03/static-faculty-salaries-amount-pay-cuts/

Prof. salaries cause of proposed tuition increase

Sophomores will not be affected by the change, but others may experience ...

/news/2008/jun/05/tuition/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID