ASUSU VIEW: Health insurance ought to be mandatory

In October of 2005, every student body president from every college and university in the state of Utah agreed. Health insurance is a big problem. So big, in fact, that the Associated Students of University of Utah have passed a resolution that recommends a hard-waiver health insurance policy. This means that when students pay their tuition and fees, health insurance is included.

So what does that mean for us?

Last year, Noell Hansen invited all USU students to an open forum held by the Student Health Advisory Committee about mandatory health insurance. As the chair of this committee, I know firsthand that not one single solitary student showed up to ask questions.

So, I’m going to recommend to President Albrecht and Provost Coward that Utah State University adopts a hard-waiver mandatory health insurance policy. I’m doing this because I care about the students who can’t afford the voluntary insurance plan that USU offers. They can’t afford the voluntary plan because it’s in a death spiral. It’s in a death spiral because insurance companies don’t want us as clients. We don’t blame them. Only sick students are purchasing their plans, which means that the insurance companies lose money.

Do you want to pay $2,136 annually for your health insurance? That’s what students are currently paying. And who knows? This could be you someday. Maybe your parents will get sick of you. Maybe they’ll quit paying your bills. Maybe you’ll turn 24 and get dropped. Maybe you’ll lose your job. How will you pay your medical bills? Has it ever even crossed your mind?

So, what do we think you should do?

Get educated. Visit the Student Health and Wellness Center. Ask your parents if you even have health insurance. Volunteer to serve as a representative on the Student Health Advisory Committee. They get to vote. They get to decide whether or not we implement a hard-waiver mandatory health insurance policy at USU. Those positions have never been filled, despite our advertising. I need to know what the student body thinks about this issue, because it affects every single student’s body.

And who knows, maybe I’m wrong. I just want to raise the issue.

Maure Smith is the Graduate Student Senate president and chair of the Student Health Advisory committee. Contact her at gss@usu.edu.