University of Florida might require insurance, offers one program at only $13, 075 a year.

[madfloridian]

Paging Michael Moore.

I was stunned to read this. I found myself hoping there was a mistake in the paper. I still am not sure. If true it will effectively price a lot of students out of going if they are not under parents' insurance.

UF May Require Health Insurance

GAINESVILLE - Health insurance may soon be as important as high SAT scores for potential college students in Florida. The Florida Board of Governors is considering a requirement all public university students to have health insurance.

..."Undergrads not covered by parents' plans can only look to the Student Health Care Center for help. Scarborough Insurance has worked with UF since 1993 to provide health insurance to students.

If that sentence is worded correctly, they will have to use this insurance company. How could they possibly require that? Is this article carelessly written, or is it possible they could do that? Curious. Here is the website. They do not list the prices, you need to email them.

http://www.scarins.com/student/UF_Student_Insurance.asp

Here is what is in the article about the prices.

The company's Web site offers two health insurance plans. Plan A covers $1,000 of costs at the Student Health Care Center with no deductibles and Plan B offers the same coverage as well as major medical insurance for cases that require hospitalization.

A plan that covers major medical expenses would cost $13,075 a year and pay for about 80 percent of the medical bills, he said.

That seems excessively high, but I can't see the prices of the other options.

[DangerDave921]

1. Seems high

For kids in that age group, health insurance is not that expensive because there are a lot of people in that age group and statistically speaking, young people don't have that many medical problems.

But if they're in college, they may need drunkenness insurance, or casual hook-up insurance. That would be costly!

[ramapo]

2. That is absurdly high for young singles

A decent plan (no school affiliation) in NJ will cost about $5000 a year for single coverage. My kids go to University of Chicago and it's about $1300/yr for a quite good plan.

However this just illustrates the absurdity of proposals to help people afford insurance by giving a couple thousand dollars tax credit. Family coverage here in NJ can cost ~$25,000 with no drug benefit if you have to get covered on your own. Our company coverage premium went up 25% this year (almost typical) to nearly $20,000 for family. All we can do is cut benefits as we've already increased contributions to cover about one-third the cost.

When I hear people rail against single-payer insurance as taking away choice, well I just want to scream.

We are at the mercy of the insurance companies. We have no choice. The fear of losing health insurance, or not being able to pay for it, limits our choices in life.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. So is the cost of education. And people wonder why young folks don't buy houses anymore.

[whistle]

3. When I attended college at Michigan State University from 1965 to 1969

....I recall that the on campus hospital care was free to full time students and in fact I got sick during my senior year in May 1968 and spent three days in the hospital. I did not have to pay anything. Now, I'm a little fuzzy about whether there was a health insurance plan for students which in all likelihood I would have enrolled in because it would have been very inexpensive like $13.00 per semester or something in that range. So $13.00 X 3 per year verses $13,075.00 over 42 years, give me a break!

[Firespirit]

5. How is that legal?

Some undergrads are established adults who are financially independent, perhaps married, and are already covered under their own insurance plans rather than their parents'. How can the university demand that they drop their existing coverage (which might be provided for free by their spouse's group policy, for instance) and buy into this overpriced s--t?

And shit it is.

$13,075/year = $1089/month premium.
80% of medical bills = if you have a $500,000 heart surgery, as my best friend did, they still have to pay $100,000 of it OUT OF POCKET.

What crap. If that's not illegal, it should be.

[madfloridian]

6. Doesn't make sense, does it?

I would like to know if that Rick and Brian Scarborough and their company can be given that exclusive deal like that.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

16. My school (U of Illinois) required us to be insured also

This was back in the early 90's.

If you were already covered, you didn't have to get insurance from the university.

It's actually a very rational policy considering how quickly an unchecked virus or outbreak could spread through a college campus.

[Firespirit]

17. Two points...

Insurance won't prevent an epidemic. And it is the responsibility of medical providers, in the event of an epidemic, to provide care (including preventive care) regardless of insurance status.

That price is NOT rational. Especially for people who are already under a mountain of college debt to Sallie Mae or whoever.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

18. And where exactly did I say anything about the price?

I doubt that figure is accurate. (At Illinois, the fee was, IIRC, approx. $500/year if you weren't already covered elsewhere.) The usual rates are typically heavily subsidized at most colleges.

And...think what you will about the insurance, but there was a case of viral meningitis in my dorm freshman year. Our entire floor went to the doctor together to get checked out, and none of us paid a cent. If you really think that would have occurred if we'd each had to pay $80 for a doctor's visit, I've got a bridge I'm dying to get off my hands.


On edit: as I suspected, insurance is subsidized at Florida. It costs $840/semester.
http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/apply/coa.html

[SteppingRazor]

7. One devil's advocate thing...

you're all assuming that students would have to pay the typical rate, when usually, companies offer health insurance to student health centers (and thus to students) at big discounts.

[frazzled]

8. Most schools require students to be insured ...

and offer a student health plan for those who don't have their own insurance. But that $13,075 has to be wrong.

My son just received the benefits book for the university where he will be a grad student next year. He will have his insurance paid for by the school, since he is on fellowship ... but I looked up the rates for those who were not: $1,524 for the basic plan, per year; $2,228 for the comprehensive plan, per year. It doesn't look like bad insurance, either. The basic plan offers $250,000 lifetime aggregate maximum per condition; the comprehensive plan $1,000,000 aggregate per condition. Given that people would be students usually for no longer than 6 years, it's doubtful that would be exceeded. Physician visits may be made at the student health center (100% covered; at a preferred outside provider (80% of charges); or a nonpreferred outside provider (50% of charges). Hospitalization paid at 80% of charges, with a maximum of $5,000 out of pocket per year on the basic plan, $3,000 out of pocket on the comp. plan. There are many other benefits, including prescription drugs, lab and x-ray, ambulance, home health care, etc.

[whistle]

9. Puts all potential college students on notice that if you are not rich

....you need not apply!

[tsuki]

10. No way. That premium should cover 100%. Kick back to UF? At

one time, I would not have thought it, but with recent allegations that universities were steering students to "low cost" loans that were in actuality up to 28% and receiving a kick back for the referral, I have suspicions.

[Firespirit]

12. Absolutely it should

In the first place, that's the medical insurance equivalent of anal rape, especially for college students who are just starting out.

Secondly, as I pointed out, an expensive surgery will STILL result in a hundred-thousand-dollar cost to the patient. Which is absolutely criminal if the student was already covered under their own plan (rather than their parents', which seems to be what the university requires) that would've paid in full for the same surgery.

[entanglement]

11. $13,075 a year for college kids is highway robbery

[madfloridian]

13. More about that Scarborough Company.

There is a Texas Rick Scarborough (pastor?), so I was trying to find something else about the company. Appears to be Gainesville company, but nothing about the sons...just says 3 generations. That TX Rick Scarborough was highly involved the Schiavo case, I think. I can't tell what is going on...that price is too high.

http://www.scarins.com/
"In 1960, our agency originated from a small, used desk located in the home of our Founder and President, Earl M. Scarborough, who had recently retired from his coaching position at the University of Florida. His wife was his lone assistant and he specialized in life and health sales. From those limited origins, our agency has outgrown two office buildings and now employs over 20 individuals (including 3 generations of Scarboroughs) who are adept at handling all lines of insurance needs. Over the past 40 years we have enjoyed providing knowledgeable insurance advice to the Gainesville community. We look forward to a bright future of superior products and new friends while remaining true to our foundation: capable and friendly service to our customers. Our family's business is protecting your family and business."

Not sure what I am getting at...I just feel uncomfortable at how the article was written, more so if it is true.

[Firespirit]

14. Do you have Lexis Nexis?

There might be a lot more information about the company on that. I have it, but I don't have my login with me right now. Especially in light of SiCKO, this is really outrageous and I'm inclined to do some research into it as well, if no one beats me to it.

[madfloridian]

15. Wish I did.

There is a Rick Scarborough with big ties to Jeb, but the only thing I can find right now is the Schiavo case outrage.

I believe that a Brian Scarborough is with the insurance company, must be a brother.

I would like to think the paper posted the amount in error, but I can't prove it.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

19. It's $840/semester

Per the University's website. As others have suspected, the insurance is probably subsidized as these are state college students. You probably should have checked their website to double-check this before you decided the sky was falling.

http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/apply/coa.html

[madfloridian]

20. I was questioning.....I am so tired of the smart ass responses at DU

I questioned and I doubted. And I asked. That was a very rude statement, and that kind of smart ass stuff is ruining this website.

You could have made much more of an impression by saying I found the answer at their website....

I will now email the Gainesville Sun where the article originated and ask them to give their side of the figures.

[Clark2008]

21. Speaking as a Univ. of Tennessee Vols fan, I say MORE POWER

TO THEM.

If they require this of their students, no one will attend this university and we won't have to deal with their rude-ass fans ever again.

:evilgrin:

Seriously, this is stupid. I was just adding a light touch to the situation. I can't believe they could require something like this.

[madfloridian]

22. Here is the original article from the campus correspondent...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070710/LOCAL/707100310/-1/news

I am going to write him to correct his article.

It's a good thing to question, because other papers have picked it up like the Ledger site listed above.

[WindRavenX]

23. I went to Boston College and had to pay 500/semester for health insurance.

So, it cost me an additional 2K to go to college, as my parents were (and still are) uninsured.

But 13K a fucking year? Yeah, tell me this country isn't turning into a society of "haves" and "haves-nots".

Sickening.

[madfloridian]

25. Here's the amount from their website.

http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/apply/coa.html

So the paper made a huge mistake....or the company is getting richer and richer.

Here's the article where you can ask the guy to correct it.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070710/LOCAL/707100310/-1/news

[BlooInBloo]

24. At least they're relatively close to Cuba.

[Marrah_G]

26. That makes no sense at all. I call BS!

There are major plans out there for less half the cost with 20$ co-pays and no deductibles etc.

It makes no sense at all.

With that said. Health insurance for unemployed singles is excessively high. Here in Mass they could be covered for free through the state if they make less then the federal poverty level (around 15000) and do not currently have insurance.

[madfloridian]

27. Here's the amount from the student website.

http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/apply/coa.html

So the paper made a huge mistake....or the company is getting richer and richer.

Here's the article where you can ask the guy to correct it.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070710/LOCAL/707100310/-1/news

He is the campus correspondent whose article is getting picked up by other papers.

[Marrah_G]

30. That makes way more sense!

[TransitJohn]

28. I know that at the University of Wyoming

...you can sign a waiver if you wish to not carry health insurance.

[librechik]

29. that's nearly half my yearly income.

This won't work either, idiots. Just go to universal Medicare and shut up about it already! We/ve been walking in circles for decades!