Students will have two opportunities this week to request changes they’d like to see made to the new health insurance plan they’re able to opt into.
Ohio University is in the process of selecting a vendor for the student health insurance plan. Final companies will be giving presentations and answering questions from students about their policies.
The first finalist, Gallagher Koster, will present Monday at 2 p.m. in Baker University Center room 240.
The other finalist and OU’s current vendor, UnitedHealthcare StudentResources, will present Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the same room in Baker.
The contract OU has with UHC is set to expire in 2014. The university is required by Ohio law as a state university to put out a bid to other insurance companies, said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student Affairs.
It’s important for students to come and provide feedback before OU selects a plan, Lombardi said.
“I’d really like to see students who have thoughts about the plans, about what’s worked well,” Lombardi said. “Especially since one of the vendors, one of the finalists is our current vendor.”
Although the insurance plan doesn’t have to provide all services required under the Affordable Care Act this year, the university would like the plan to start providing all the required services this year, Jenny Hall-Jones, dean of students, said.
The current student health insurance plan is much better now than it has been in the past, Lombardi said.
“I don’t know that there are a whole lot of gaps in our coverage,” Lombardi said. “I think it’s pretty good.”
The current plan covers about 4,000 students, Lombardi said.
The 2013-14 premium rates from UHC are $1,487 for domestic and international students, $2,911 for spouses and $1,696 for children, The Post previously reported.
The university does not benefit financially from the insurance policies, according to a previous Post article.
“(The administrators) don’t need this, the students do, and so I’m more interested in what students want and think and all that kind of stuff, so the more that could come and give that feedback the better,” Lombardi said.
@MariaDeVito13
md781510@ohiou.edu
If You Go
What Gallagher Koster presentation
When Monday 2 p.m.
Where Baker 240
What UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
When Wednesday 2 p.m.
Where Baker 240
This article appeared in print under the headline "Health insurance companies, students to meet"
