As Boston University students witness changes in financial aid and rising tuition, we need to look at another ridiculous cost &-&- health care.
The words “college student” and “health care” are rarely paired in the same sentence. That’s because we’re healthy most of the time and our biggest health expenses come in the form of a seasonal flu shot. For this reason, school health insurance providers have deemed it acceptable to exploit students.
As Massachusetts residents, BU students are obligated to purchase a health care plan. For most students, this means the choice between remaining on our parents’ plans or electing to purchase the school-provided insurance. In all, about 27 percent of students choose the latter, according to a Dec. 2009 report by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.
The Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy estimates that 30 cents of each student premium dollar goes toward profits and administrative costs for the insurance companies &-&- more than twice the 12 cents of every dollar of a non-student Massachusetts resident’s.
Something is wrong with this picture. Massachusetts students are considered residents, but should the same rules apply?
Abby Ridley-Kerr
CAS 2013
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