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s_ed_2017a_2017-01-26t13:32:32z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/26/2017

Location: SCR 352

Final

Discussion with higher education institutions on student health insurance



SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION


Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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01:39 PM -- Discussion with higher education institutions on student health insurance



Senator Hill invited representatives from the University of Colorado (CU), Colorado State University (CSU), and Metropolitan State University of Denver (Metro) to come to the table to talk about their institution's requirements for student health insurance. Jeremy Hueth, Managing Associate University Counsel, and Michele Van Pelt, Director of Finance and Operations for health services at CU, came to the table. Ms. Van Pelt talked about the opt-out process for students to decline the health insurance. She explained that the school's mandatory student health insurance plan was implemented in 1986 for students enrolled in six or more undergraduate course hours, or one or more graduate course hours. She stated that students are automatically enrolled in the school's health insurance plan and are given a period of time to opt-out of the plan. She said that all students at CU are required to have some type of health insurance coverage, and if they choose to opt-out of the school's plan, they must provide proof of other insurance coverage. She talked about students' ability to apply for a late waiver if they miss the opt-out period. Ms. Van Pelt answered questions from the committee. Mr. Hueth told the committee that 80 percent of the CU-Boulder student population opts out of coverage, while the opt-out rate at the Anschutz campus is 65 percent. The representatives from CU distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C).



17SenateEd0126AttachC.pdf17SenateEd0126AttachC.pdf



01:46 PM



Christine Straburg, representing Metro, talked about the school's student health insurance requirements as well as it's opt-out waiver. She distributed two handouts to the committee (Attachments D and E), and stated that Metro has an 80 percent opt-out rate and 20 percent of students are insured through the school's health insurance plan. Mike Feeley, representing CSU, explained that CSU requires it's students to maintain some type of health insurance, whether it be through the school, their parents, or another plan. He said that 20 percent of CSU students are covered by the school's plan. He explained that similar to the other schools represented on the panel, students at CSU must opt-out of the school's policy, which has been in existence since 1984.



17SenateEd0126AttachD.pdf17SenateEd0126AttachD.pdf 17SenateEd0126AttachE.pdf17SenateEd0126AttachE.pdf








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