Students surveyed: UH health plan too costly
University of Hawai'i endorses HMSA to provide coverage for students
Paige L. Jinbo
Issue date: 9/14/09 Section: News
Although the majority of KCC students currently have health insurance, if the situation presented itself where they had no insurance, students wouldn't enroll in the University of Hawai'i-Chaminade University Health Insurance plan.
In an informal survey that the Kapi'o staff conducted, 52 percent of the students polled found it too expensive to be insured under the UH-Chaminade plan. For rates, see sidebar on the right.
"I think car insurance is cheaper than this medical insurance plan," said Crystal Dallass, 24, culinary arts major.
For the past six years, UH has endorsed Hawai'i Medical Service Association, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Hawai'i, to provide student health insurance for UH students.
Under the HMSA plan students have a variety of plan options. While each plan is different, every option provides medical coverage along with laboratory, radiology, mental health, family planning and medical evacuation benefits.
"Even if it's expensive, having insurance is necessary," said Chris Maxson, 26, liberal arts major. "Anything can happen and you don't want to get stuck paying a hospital bill out of your pocket."
There are four different options: Medical only, Medical with Repatriation, Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Medical with Drug and Medical with Drug, Repatriation, Life and AD&D. The rates vary from plan to plan.
Any student enrolled in at least half time at any of the 10 campuses within the UH system or at Chaminade University is eligible for the health insurance plan. Half time is defined as six credits for undergraduates and four credits for graduate students.
"If I didn't have (medical) insurance I think I would enroll in the UH plan," said Peter Maher, 26, botany major. "It's probably cheaper than what I could get elsewhere."
According to HMSA marketing official, each semester there are 2,800 to 3,000 students who participate in the HMSA student health plan.
Students who don't have medical insurance should highly consider enrolling in the plan. Having medical insurance safeguards against the unknown and lack of adequate insurance coverage may be financially devastating in the event of a major illness or accident, HMSA official said.
In an informal survey that the Kapi'o staff conducted, 52 percent of the students polled found it too expensive to be insured under the UH-Chaminade plan. For rates, see sidebar on the right.
"I think car insurance is cheaper than this medical insurance plan," said Crystal Dallass, 24, culinary arts major.
For the past six years, UH has endorsed Hawai'i Medical Service Association, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Hawai'i, to provide student health insurance for UH students.
Under the HMSA plan students have a variety of plan options. While each plan is different, every option provides medical coverage along with laboratory, radiology, mental health, family planning and medical evacuation benefits.
"Even if it's expensive, having insurance is necessary," said Chris Maxson, 26, liberal arts major. "Anything can happen and you don't want to get stuck paying a hospital bill out of your pocket."
There are four different options: Medical only, Medical with Repatriation, Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Medical with Drug and Medical with Drug, Repatriation, Life and AD&D. The rates vary from plan to plan.
Any student enrolled in at least half time at any of the 10 campuses within the UH system or at Chaminade University is eligible for the health insurance plan. Half time is defined as six credits for undergraduates and four credits for graduate students.
"If I didn't have (medical) insurance I think I would enroll in the UH plan," said Peter Maher, 26, botany major. "It's probably cheaper than what I could get elsewhere."
According to HMSA marketing official, each semester there are 2,800 to 3,000 students who participate in the HMSA student health plan.
Students who don't have medical insurance should highly consider enrolling in the plan. Having medical insurance safeguards against the unknown and lack of adequate insurance coverage may be financially devastating in the event of a major illness or accident, HMSA official said.
Be the first to comment on this story