2008 Woodie Awards
Simpson to require healthcare coverage for all students
Beginning fall 2008, all full-time students must show proof of insurance
Emily Schettler/Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
Starting next school year, all Simpson students will be required to have health insurance.
Currently, the school requires proof of insurance from all athletes and international students. Beginning in the fall of 2008, all full-time students must show proof of insurance or sign up for the policy offered by Simpson.
Mimi Bartley, director of human services, is a member of a committee comprised of students and faculty whose job is to choose which plan will become the requirement.
Bartley thinks students should be insured so people won't have to worry about the expenses in a time of emergency.
"Knowing everyone has sound medical coverage eliminates the worry for the students as well as the college of what to do if a student had a medical need and no means to pay for treatment," Bartley said. "None of us know when we're going to become ill or suffer an injury. With the increasing cost of medical care and prescription drugs, having no coverage is not a very safe [option]."
Jim Thorius, vice president for student development and dean of students, said the committee is currently looking at different policy offerings for next year.
"It's primarily an issue to make sure that students have ample healthcare access available," Thorius said.
According to Thorius, Simpson is one of few schools throughout Iowa that hasn't made health insurance mandatory.
"As we explored this issue with schools across the country and particularly those in the same state, we're probably the exception," Thorius said. "Most schools have already implemented a mandatory proof of insurance."
Right now, the school offers a plan administered through Student Assurance Services and underwritten by Columbian Life Insurance Company. For $450, a student can get major medical coverage for illness or injury.
Bartley said they are looking into a more extensive plan than the one Simpson provides now.
"The current plan design is more for catastrophic care," Bartley said. "This is one of the reasons other options are being looked at, to enable us to offer a plan with more comprehensive care."
Currently, the school requires proof of insurance from all athletes and international students. Beginning in the fall of 2008, all full-time students must show proof of insurance or sign up for the policy offered by Simpson.
Mimi Bartley, director of human services, is a member of a committee comprised of students and faculty whose job is to choose which plan will become the requirement.
Bartley thinks students should be insured so people won't have to worry about the expenses in a time of emergency.
"Knowing everyone has sound medical coverage eliminates the worry for the students as well as the college of what to do if a student had a medical need and no means to pay for treatment," Bartley said. "None of us know when we're going to become ill or suffer an injury. With the increasing cost of medical care and prescription drugs, having no coverage is not a very safe [option]."
Jim Thorius, vice president for student development and dean of students, said the committee is currently looking at different policy offerings for next year.
"It's primarily an issue to make sure that students have ample healthcare access available," Thorius said.
According to Thorius, Simpson is one of few schools throughout Iowa that hasn't made health insurance mandatory.
"As we explored this issue with schools across the country and particularly those in the same state, we're probably the exception," Thorius said. "Most schools have already implemented a mandatory proof of insurance."
Right now, the school offers a plan administered through Student Assurance Services and underwritten by Columbian Life Insurance Company. For $450, a student can get major medical coverage for illness or injury.
Bartley said they are looking into a more extensive plan than the one Simpson provides now.
"The current plan design is more for catastrophic care," Bartley said. "This is one of the reasons other options are being looked at, to enable us to offer a plan with more comprehensive care."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Warning
posted 2/28/08 @ 11:14 AM CST
If either Clinton or Obama win next year Simpson won't have to worry about health insurance because they will force everyone to have insurance even if you can't afford it. (Continued…)
Drew
posted 3/04/08 @ 11:52 PM CST
Warning-
if you did your research you would know that Obama's plan DOESN'T require everyone to get insurance, because he understands that not all people can afford it. (Continued…)
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