CAMPUS NEWS - TOP STORY
UH offers reasonably priced health plans
by Joanne Zacarias

Each year millions of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 put themselves at risk by not having health
insurance.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported in its 2000 Current Population Survey that 29.2 percent of young adults are without health coverage and that number is growing. Why is this important? Because the average young adult is a college student like you.

A typical college student enrolls at a university at age 18 and will graduate at 23. Most start off covered under their parents’ employers health plan, but start losing coverage because they do not fully understand how their health plan works.

“If your parents have a good policy and you (the student) are included, you’ll usually be okay,” said Jayne Neagle, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute. She adds that parents should be well informed of their coverage, “You don’t want your son or daughter to call you from college really sick and then start to wonder.”

To stay covered, a student must be enrolled full-time every semester. Dropping credit hours or withdrawing from classes mid-semester could change their coverage.
At 23, students are automatically dropped from the health plan. Most health plans also do not cover students studying or traveling abroad.

The increase in medical premiums is a major factor in why students do not have insurance. However, not paying a monthly premium could end up being more costly in case of an emergency.

“Because medical costs are so high, it is even more important to be covered, as few can afford the cost of medical expenses,” says Glenn Nochi, UH student health insurance coordinator.

“In Hawai‘i the average cost of an MRI is $2,000, a one-day hospital stay is $3,500 and head trauma treatment is $50,000. ” It is reported that each year, nearly one-third of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to unpaid medical bills.

Because uninsured young adults wait as long as possible to see a doctor, preventive care such as regular physical exams or pap smears for women are missed. One-third of HIV positive cases are undetected in those who are uninsured.

Other sexually transmitted diseases and asthma are some of the more commonly undiagnosed conditions.

Late-night studying, parties and unhealthy eating habits all put college students at risk of getting sick or having to go to the doctor.

Nochi points out, “The majority of college age students are young, healthy and probably do not worry about one day going to the hospital.”

He adds, “It’s great that our (UH) student population is generally healthy, but there are many things that are beyond an individual’s control such as accidents or chronic illness.” UH helps students become insured by offering reasonably priced health plans.

The university offers two plans through HMSA: a Basic Plan, which provides medical coverage only, and a Comprehensive Plan, which provides vision and drug coverage in addition to medical.

“The current UH student plan with HMSA provides a substantial level of coverage and benefits, says Nochi. “You would be hard-pressed to find a comparable plan on your own.”

There are three available times to enroll for the UH health plan: fall coverage from Aug. 15 to Dec. 31, spring coverage from Jan. 1 to May 15 and summer coverage from May 16 to Aug. 14.

If you would like more information about the UH student health plan or would like to enroll in the health plan online, visit www.hmsa.com/portal/student. Or contact Glenn Nochi at 956-5862.

Students should think about health insurance if they:
• Are not covered by parents’ health plan.
• Attend college part-time.
• Plan to travel or study in a foreign country.
• Plan to or are currently taking time off from school.
• Are not employed.
• Are 23 years old or older.
• Are married or have children.