About 15 to 30 percent of students attending UNM are uninsured, according to Beverly Kloeppel, director of Student Health and Counseling.
The problem of young people being uninsured is an issue seen not only at UNM but statewide. The percentage of New Mexicans without health insurance rose from 20.1 percent to 22.7 percent between 2004 and 2007. New Mexico has the second highest rate of residents without health insurance in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Kloeppel said one unanticipated, major medical event can financially devastate students if they don't have health insurance.
"It doesn't take very much for a hospitalization and surgery to be in the $20,000 range," she said. "That can be the difference between remaining in school or not remaining in school."
This is why Kloeppel tells students to enroll in the Student Health Insurance program offered by UNM.
"The other thing is that there are lots of disorders that are treated by medication that are common among students, and this helps defray some of that medical cost," Kloeppel said. "It's very hard to afford that out of pocket without having some insurance to help you."
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The deadline to enroll in one of UNM's Student Health Insurance plans is Sept. 15.
The two UNM insurance plans offered to students differ in coverage and price.
Deductibles are waived within Student Health and Counseling, but outside of SHAC, students must pay their medical bills out-of-pocket up to $250 for Plan A and $1,500 for Plan B.
Co-pay is more comprehensive in Plan A than Plan B. Plan A pays 80 percent of fees for oral birth control and 50 percent of fees for all other prescriptions. Plan B pays only for 80 percent of birth control fees.
Both plans pay a maximum of $2,000 per policy year for prescriptions after the deductible is met.
Plan B offers less coverage than Plan A but is less expensive. Plan B is $800, while Plan A is $1,412. Both plans pay up to $50,000 on eligible medical expenses, but neither plan includes dependent or spouse coverage. These can be purchased for an additional amount.
Kloeppel said she and the UNM Student Insurance Committee offer the plans in the hope that more students will find one that fits their needs and financial situation.
"We try to find a balance to making them affordable, and they may not be as comprehensive as the insurance of an employee, but it costs maybe a third of what it would cost with an individual insurance plan," she said. "For most students' problems, it does meet the needs."
Each of the insurance plans cover a student for one year, and he or she can choose to make payments annually, monthly or by semester.
Student Brooke Udero said she was told about the Student Health Insurance in New Student Orientation but hasn't had a chance to look into it.
"I have eye insurance through my work, but that's it," Udero said. "I don't have medical or anything."
Student Brigitte Madrid said she is not interested in UNM's plans because she is covered under her parents' health insurance plan.
In New Mexico, students can be covered through their parents' policy until they reach the age of 25.
To be eligible for the UNM insurance plan, students must be enrolled in six credit hours of courses each semester at UNM, three credit hours in the summer or three credit hours of dissertation and not employed full-time by UNM. Plans are available to cover students, their spouses and any dependents.
The insurance is provided through a third party, Macori, Inc.
Only about 2,500 students enroll in UNM's health insurance plans each year, Kloeppel said.
She said there are too many advantages to having health insurance for students to pass up the opportunity.
"If they have insurance, they are more likely to seek medical care earlier and get preventative health services that help keep them healthy so they don't miss classes and maintain their academic standing," Kloeppel said.
Student Health Insurance orientations
Thursday at 2 p.m.
Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Friday at 2 p.m.
in the Student Health and Counseling building in room 234.
