2008 Woodie Awards
PSUC breaks insurance norm
Fees waived for students covered
Katie Via
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: News
Originally published: 3/6/08 at 5:16 PM EST
Last update: 3/6/08 at 5:15 PM EST
While many college campuses do not accept family insurance plans, causing parents to spend substantial amounts of money keeping their children healthy, the same cannot be said for Plattsburgh State.
PSUC requires that all students have some form of health insurance and offers their own for $157 per semester, but if a student is covered under their parents' health insurance, this fee can be waived.
"It's good because that way, we know that all students are covered," Kathleen Camelo, director of the Center for Student Health and Psychological Services said.
With a mandatory student health fee of $127 per semester, full-time students have access to all services offered at the health center, including counseling, psychological health services, health education, labs and all medications available.
Students also have the option of making an appointment with a provider for a chronic illness, which is also covered by the mandatory health fee.
While accepting outside insurance puts less stress on parents' wallets, Camelo explains that in some cases parents will buy the insurance plan regardless of whether their child is already covered to ensure they are able to get whatever care they need.
"It makes things a lot easier, especially if the student lives far away," Camelo said. "If their insurance company says they have to go back to their primary care provider in Long Island, we can't just do that."
Another issue for some students is that the health center does not process or bill outside insurance, so if a student requires medical care not available at the health center - X-rays, ambulance, etc.- the student has to pay for the service, then file for reimbursement through their family insurance.
In some cases, a student may no longer be covered by their family insurance plan once they reach a certain age or if they drop from full-time to part-time status, leaving them responsible for the bill.
"That's a problem parents really need to look into before sending their child off to school," Victor Ovalle, coordinator of administrative services at PSUC's Student Health and Psychological Services, said.
PSUC requires that all students have some form of health insurance and offers their own for $157 per semester, but if a student is covered under their parents' health insurance, this fee can be waived.
"It's good because that way, we know that all students are covered," Kathleen Camelo, director of the Center for Student Health and Psychological Services said.
With a mandatory student health fee of $127 per semester, full-time students have access to all services offered at the health center, including counseling, psychological health services, health education, labs and all medications available.
Students also have the option of making an appointment with a provider for a chronic illness, which is also covered by the mandatory health fee.
While accepting outside insurance puts less stress on parents' wallets, Camelo explains that in some cases parents will buy the insurance plan regardless of whether their child is already covered to ensure they are able to get whatever care they need.
"It makes things a lot easier, especially if the student lives far away," Camelo said. "If their insurance company says they have to go back to their primary care provider in Long Island, we can't just do that."
Another issue for some students is that the health center does not process or bill outside insurance, so if a student requires medical care not available at the health center - X-rays, ambulance, etc.- the student has to pay for the service, then file for reimbursement through their family insurance.
In some cases, a student may no longer be covered by their family insurance plan once they reach a certain age or if they drop from full-time to part-time status, leaving them responsible for the bill.
"That's a problem parents really need to look into before sending their child off to school," Victor Ovalle, coordinator of administrative services at PSUC's Student Health and Psychological Services, said.
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