news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Layoffs and budget cuts have had students at UNC system schools counting their losses recently.
But this month, the UNC Board of Governors might have good news for them: dramatically better student health insurance.

The new plan, which will be discussed at the board’s meeting Thursday, would bring all UNC schools under the same program and require uninsured students to purchase coverage through their schools starting in fall 2010.

Many students will also be saving cash.

The UNC system has a number of health insurance plans at its 16 campuses, with maximum basic benefits ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. Students pay annual premiums ranging from $380 to $1,565. Under the new plan all students would pay $549 to $679 for a maximum basic benefit of $100,000.

At UNCG, students insured through the school’s plan now pay $780 a year for a maximum basic health benefit of $100,000.
Students at N.C. A&T pay $458 per year for insurance through their school — but their maximum basic benefit is $10,000.

All but five of the UNC schools are now part of the same health insurance consortium, which allows them to offer lower premiums. Not all the schools require students to have some form of health insurance.

But under the new “hard waiver” plan, all degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled for more than six credit hours will need to prove they are insured or buy insurance from their school.

No student already covered will be required to buy into their university’s plan but will be allowed to choose the cheaper of the two plans.

Health insurance costs will be factored into total cost of attendance for financial aid packages.

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com