Posted on 11/06/2013 10:21:37 AM PST by markomalley
Starting next year, West Virginia University will require all students to be covered under healthcare before they can attend class, and is suggesting that students sign up for Obamacare.
An email circulated by Ken Gray, the university’s vice president for student affairs, and addressed to”WVU Parents, Students, and Families” states:
“Beginning academic year 2014-15, all WVU students will be required to have health care coverage. Many universities around the country use this model to ensure that students are protected against unforeseen and catastrophic medical expenses.”
The email stresses that “Because health problems can interfere with academic success, West Virginia University is in the process of making important changes in the health care of our students.”
The email recommends two options for the 29,466 students enrolled at WVU to use for their healthcare. These are detailed in the email.
The first option suggested is: “Aetna Student Insurance – If your student is in need of health insurance, WVU contracts with Aetna Student Health Insurance to offer an affordable, comprehensive, ACA-compliant policy tailored to student needs. Information can be obtained at www.aetnastudenthealth.com or by calling 304-293-0257. To be certain that your insurance, or any insurance that you choose to purchase for your student, meets the criteria required by WVU, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/kethenf.”
The second option recommended in the email is the Affordable Care Act, and the letter directs students to the the highly dysfunctional online health insurance market place to secure coverage.
“The Affordable Care Act (ACA) – The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers qualified students who are uninsured with options for discounted or free health insurance. Open enrollment began October 1, 2013, and ends March 31, 2014. For more information call 1-800-318-2596 or visit the website at: marketplace.cms.gov.”
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has been critical of the roll out of the Affordable Care Act and has been one of the most prominent and senior Democrats to voice concerns about the program. His has previously called for a one year delay on the penalties that would be levied against anyone who had not purchased health care coverage.
The full copy of the email reads:
Dear WVU Parents, Students, and Families:
Because health problems can interfere with academic success, West Virginia University is in the process of making important changes in the health care of our students. WELLWVU: The Students’ Center of Health has expanded its services, delivery strategies, and programs. The changes will promote, educate, and support students in keeping healthy and adopting positive lifestyle choices. These changes include:
New, consolidated wellness facility with expanded hours – During the summer 2014, all of the services and programs within WELLWVU (Student Health, Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services, and the Office of Wellness and Health Promotion) will be moved to their new Evansdale campus location adjacent to the Student Recreation Center. The expansion of our services includes a partnership with WVU Healthcare that allows for extended evening and weekend clinic hours and enhanced coordination with WVU Healthcare specialty services. The new WELLWVU Student Health clinic is staffed by physician faculty from the WVU School of Medicine and other WVU Healthcare providers, and is designed to provide prompt and comprehensive medical care for a complete range of student health issues.
HEALTH INSURANCE Beginning academic year 2014-15, all WVU students will be required to have health care coverage. Many universities around the country use this model to ensure that students are protected against unforeseen and catastrophic medical expenses.
Billing Insurance for Medical Services – Students using the medical services provided at the WELLWVU Student Health Center may have these services either billed to their health insurance provider or pay from their own resources when services are rendered; the choice is theirs. If students choose to use their health insurance, they will be asked to provide the co-payment (as determined by their carrier) at the time of service. Students will need to present a copy of their insurance card upon check-in. Insurance can also be billed for any medical costs incurred if the student is referred for testing or treatments. Please be aware that many plans require prior approval before a student can be seen by anyone except their primary care provider. Students should inquire with their family’s insurance company to discuss their eligibility of benefits and reimbursement procedures before using WELLWVU Student Health.
Aetna Student Insurance – If your student is in need of health insurance, WVU contracts with Aetna Student Health Insurance to offer an affordable, comprehensive, ACA-compliant policy tailored to student needs. Information can be obtained atwww.aetnastudenthealth.com or by calling 304-293-0257. To be certain that your insurance, or any insurance that you choose to purchase for your student, meets the criteria required by WVU, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/kethenf.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) – The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers qualified students who are uninsured with options for discounted or free health insurance. Open enrollment began October 1, 2013, and ends March 31, 2014. For more information call 1-800-318-2596 or visit the website at: marketplace.cms.gov.
Additional Health Care Information –WELLWVU student health patient information is stored in a secure, consolidated electronic record system managed by WVU Healthcare | WVU Hospitals. New patients are encouraged to provide necessary registration information in advance by calling 1-800-324-1468 (or locally 304-598-4998) before they need to use WELLWVU services.
MyWVUChart – All registered patients will be assigned a medical record number that enables them to use MyWVUChart. This service will allow students to request an appointment with a provider, access their health summary, view test results, request a refill for prescriptions, and communicate electronically with their medical care team. Once proper authorization is given, if elected, this electronic record also can be viewed by other health care providers, such as the student’s home town physician. Students can register for this service at www.MyWVUChart.com.
Please visit the WELLWVU website (http://well.wvu.edu) for more information as well as a comprehensive list of WELLWVU services and programs. If you have questions about the new insurance requirement, please call 304-293-WELL (9355) or e-mailWELLWVUbusinessServices@mail.wvu.edu. Our mission is to enable students to successfully achieve their academic goals and promote lifelong wellness.
Thank you,
Ken Gray
Vice President for Student Affairs
I don’t recall health insurance for college students being a big issue back when I was a student (pre-ObamaCare days)
“Choice” only applies to abortion, but they recommend abortion.
And so Marxism begins.
BULLCRAP!!!
They will drop that like a hot potato when their enrollment numbers crash
What about a woman’s choice to not have health insurance? Hands off her body.
If the parents have insurance, aren’t “kids” covered until 26 years of age? Although parents may not be able to afford to carry insurance anymore.
I suspect this is due to rampant (and expensive to cure) STDs.
A plague of the younger set rarely mentioned in the MSM.
Back in my day in the 60s no 20-something gave a rip about "health insurance".
Umm... You do realize that it is the norm now for insurance to be required of students and it is an exception when a college doesn’t? Colleges are likely ticked at ObamaCare for stealing all that money from them.
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University of Minnesota and Lewis & Clark law school have both had that as a requirement since my kids were and are there.
They can be insured by their parents until they are 26, and those who aren’t can get on Medicaid, but not many students can afford the policies Obamacare offers.
So a “University” and I use that term in the looses sense of the word, best known for binge drinking and couch burning is claiming its being responsible???
Go spend anytime in Morgantown and try not to laugh your butt off at that one.
No I didn’t know that. Either way I don’t think college is going to be the way it used to be. Those degrees aren’t really helping too many folks like they are supposed to as a result of the crashing economy
My daughters attended a college where staying off drugs and alcohol and refraining from premarital sex were part of the honor code for continued enrollment. They offered an inexpensive health insurance plan which specifically excluded coverage for substance abuse or STDs. This is what ObaMao would term substandard since the responsible kids are not forced to subsidize the irresponsible.
They must have inhaled some of the burning sofa fumes.
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