University provides health insurance information
20 03 08 - 19:10
Thursday, 20 March 2008
by REBECCA GARDNER
Intern News Reporter
Editor's Note: This is the second in a three-part series on health insurance.
"Nearly 47 million Americans, or 16 percent of the population, were without health insurance in 2005," according to the 2006 United States Census.
Problems with health insurance are felt by all United States citizens and college students at Appalachian State University are no exception.
"A lot of people don't have health insurance or have lost their health insurance policies," Director of
Student Health Services Dr. Patricia A. Geiger said. "For example, students can lose their health
insurance if their parents lose their jobs, benefits, etc."
Affordability is one of the problems students face.
"For example, depending on the living situation of the student, rent, food, gas, car insurance, and
school have to be considered," Geiger said. "Lots of students do not have the money to pay for health
insurance."
Students who are currently covered under a health insurance plan find themselves wanting to know
more about their plans.
"I know how my policy works and how much I pay per doctors visit but I'm unaware of how much is
paid per month and what is covered," said Tiffany C. Maxwell, a junior marketing major.
Glenn W. Speaks is a sophomore accounting major at Appalachian and would like to know more about
the future predictions of cost and coverage with his policy.
"Daily, I check the myCIGNA.com Web site," he said.
People do not realize the problem with insurance is that you have to keep it continuous, Geiger said.
"For example, if the student has a pre-existing illness or chronic illness then the next company they
choose to get insurance from may say they will pay for insurance but will not pay for pre-existing and
chronic illnesses," Geiger said.
A student's priorities also pose as a factor in choosing a health insurance policy. Students may have
to give up something they do not need in order to pay for their health insurance.
"Before choosing a health insurance plan, students should look at and see coverage for the area where
they spend most of their time, such as local hospitals," Geiger said.
Otherwise, students may not choose a practical insurance, Geiger said.
"Students should also look for maximum coverage," Geiger said. "Some plans are fairly inexpensive
with low maximums."
It is also important to look at what your insurance plan covers per accident or injury and to look at your
deductibles, Geiger said.
"Health care is getting paid for one way or another and the way the system has worked in the past to
pay for insurance was that everyone worked together to pay insurance," Geiger said. "It has never
been a perfect system, but it is a broken system now."
Many people think having insurance means they don't pay anything, Geiger said.
"The idea of insurance is that it covers catastrophic costs but along the way, almost every insurance
requires reduction of cost, but this is what your co-payment is," Geiger said.
Co-payments to preferred providers are much less than the non-preferred provider, Geiger said.
"If you have certain insurance, your provider may charge you less than if you had no insurance, and
that is part of our broken system," Geiger said.
Students who are graduating need to make sure if they are on their parent's insurance they know the
law requires United States companies to give people the right to continue their current insurance for a
certain time, Geiger said.
Another option is to talk with a broker and carry your own personal health insurance, Geiger said.
"The key is not to go even a day without health insurance or else the next company you try to buy
insurance from can choose to deny you health insurance coverage," Geiger said.