The QualChoice proposal to the student health insurance plan is under fire by several student groups for the increase in price based on the new inclusion of contraceptive coverage.
"The Contraceptive Coverage Committee finds QualChoice's proposal unacceptable because it imposes extra cost on two levels: first by increasing all students' total premium by 2 percent and second by charging an $18-$20 co-pay," said Lise Adams, first-year Law student and Committee co-founder.
Contraceptive Coverage Committee members and other University students questioned Student Health and QualChoice representatives about the new insurance proposal at a forum Feb. 6.
The committee has been collecting student petitions and lobbying QualChoice and Student Health to change the proposal.
The plan includes an approximate 2 percent annual premium price hike.
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"Premiums are set by looking back at the premiums from previous years," said Alison Montgomery, director of administration for the Department of Student Health. "When a new benefit is included, the price must go up."
The policy now does not include contraceptive coverage. However, QualChoice added the coverage into its preliminary August 2001 plan, which was announced last November.
"I am very happy that QualChoice has chosen to include oral contraceptive coverage in their plan," said Christine Peterson, associate director of gynecology at the Department of Student Health.
The inclusion of the oral contraceptive benefit also would cause the co-pay cost to increase along with the premium.
Currently, oral contraceptives cost $16 per pack at the Student Health pharmacy. Under the proposed plan, the QualChoice co-pay cost would increase from $16 to between $18-$20.
The committee believes these prices are too high compared with other public universities.
"We believe health care prices should be on par with that of other universities," said Susan Burgess, first-year Law student and Contraceptive Coverage Committee co-founder.
Now, female oral contraceptives are purchased through the Student Health Center.
"Contraceptives have not been covered in the past because they were cheaper at the student health center than the premium cost," Montgomery said. "But not everyone buys there."
The committee plans on continuing its lobbying efforts to change the proposal.
The current insurance plan is subject to change before Mar. 27, Burgess added.
QualChoice spokespersons directed inquiries of the issue to QualChoice Chief Executive Officer Marty D'Erasmo, who did not return phone calls.
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