2008 Woodie Awards
New health insurance covers catastrophes
Students who need to leave school because of illness are covered by new plan
By: Anna Waugh
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
In light of a nation-wide coverage gap affecting college students who take a leave of absence for health related issues, Macalester recently switched to a new health insurance provider with more expansive coverage. Currently, the issue is central to a bill before congress dealing with insurance coverage for college students.
Macalester's decision followed by only a few months a bill that Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H., introduced to Congress that, if passed, would ensure health insurance coverage for university students with long-term illnesses. The bill would close an existing loophole that allows insurance companies to deny coverage to students who take a medical leave of absence.
Since the majority of Macalester students choose to remain on their family's insurance plan and opt out of the school's coverage, individual plans vary from student to student. Most insurance companies allow students to stay under the protection of their families' policy for a certain number of years, but only if they maintain a full course load.
A problem arises, however, when students take a leave of absence because of a medical condition. In taking time off, they lose their status as full-time students, and potentially forfeit their access to health insurance when it is needed most. In most states, including Minnesota, no provision exists for students who wish to take a leave of absence and remain on their family's insurance plan.
If it is passed, H.R. 2851, dubbed "Michelle's law," would change that.
The bill was first introduced in the New Hampshire legislature in 2005, and dubbed Michelle's Law after Michelle Morse, a student at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H., was diagnosed with colon cancer. Morse's doctors had strongly recommended that she take time off from classes while undergoing chemotherapy. However, the prohibitive costs of paying for her own health insurance forced her to maintain a full course load during her treatment in order to stay on her family's plan. Morse died in November 2006.
Macalester's decision followed by only a few months a bill that Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H., introduced to Congress that, if passed, would ensure health insurance coverage for university students with long-term illnesses. The bill would close an existing loophole that allows insurance companies to deny coverage to students who take a medical leave of absence.
Since the majority of Macalester students choose to remain on their family's insurance plan and opt out of the school's coverage, individual plans vary from student to student. Most insurance companies allow students to stay under the protection of their families' policy for a certain number of years, but only if they maintain a full course load.
A problem arises, however, when students take a leave of absence because of a medical condition. In taking time off, they lose their status as full-time students, and potentially forfeit their access to health insurance when it is needed most. In most states, including Minnesota, no provision exists for students who wish to take a leave of absence and remain on their family's insurance plan.
If it is passed, H.R. 2851, dubbed "Michelle's law," would change that.
The bill was first introduced in the New Hampshire legislature in 2005, and dubbed Michelle's Law after Michelle Morse, a student at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H., was diagnosed with colon cancer. Morse's doctors had strongly recommended that she take time off from classes while undergoing chemotherapy. However, the prohibitive costs of paying for her own health insurance forced her to maintain a full course load during her treatment in order to stay on her family's plan. Morse died in November 2006.
Be the first to comment on this story