Off the Plan: Students Without Health Insurance

Jess Lipowski

Late for class, she rushes towards the door. She notices the floor is wet but still slips, falls, and breaks her arm.

This happened to Jillian Bilan. She slipped and fell in Holden Hall six weeks ago, fracturing her radial bone. The junior theater major went to Olin Health Center for treatment, resulting in a bill around $1,000, she said. According to Bilan, Olin charged her $480 for consultation and “treatment,” merely telling her the arm was broken. Her medication, she said, was $8 and $14 for the painkillers. According to Bilan, they gave her a good price.

Bilan, however, said she has not had health insurance for two years, since she has been off her father’s plan. Unless there is a problem, Bilan said she does not visit the doctor or the dentist. Bilan said she pays for every fee related to her health care, as well as her tuition, phone bill and personal items.

“Coming here and seeing people spoiled out of their minds getting whatever they want, it’s not anything to them,” said Bilan. “A lot of people don’t appreciate what they have. And then there’s people like me who can’t even pay medical. Having no money is not glamorous.”

Some students like Kelsey Turek, though, have very limited insurance. Turek said hers only provides a $5,000 deductible for going to the hospital, no other coverage. Turek’s family pays for everything else, including regular doctor and dentist check-ups. Her family pays $98 for doctor visits and $150 to $160, including x-rays, for a dentist visit.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve kept track of how much it costs and how much it is going to cost after college,” said Turek, sophomore English major with teaching certification in Elementary Education. “What’s frustrating and scary is with all of these visits and not under health insurance, prices are through the roof. I don’t know how anyone can honestly do it alone.”  

But Glynda Moorer, M.D., said the college age bracket do not have many preventative checkups needed, except a recommended cholesterol check. If someone eats a balanced diet and exercises somewhat regularly, Moorer said they are not at a high risk for health problems. 

Dr. Moorer said she hates to see students who cannot get the hospitalization or treatment they need because they do not have health insurance. In 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the 18-to-24-age bracket, 29.6 percent were uninsured. In 2003, it increased to 30.2 percent. Overall in 2005, the number of people with health insurance grew from 245.9 million to 247.3 million, while the number without health insurance increased from 45.3 million to 46.6 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Universal health care will be a topic of much debate on the political platform for the 2008 presidential elections. Some students feel a universal health care plan would be beneficial. Turek said she feels that some might take advantage of it, but ultimately it would make the country stronger. Bilan said it would provide citizens with security, but might not encourage people to work. Moorer, on the other hand, wants one day to see health insurance mandatory for enrolling at MSU. She said she does not have firm feelings on universal health care.

About half the students go to Olin for visits, while the other half go home, said Moorer. About 5 percent of the student population at Michigan State University does not have health insurance, said Moorer. Most of those are uninsured because their parents do not have health insurance.

Students have three pre-paid visits at Olin included in the price of tuition, said Moorer. Olin offers services such as a primary clinic, dental and urgent care. Most shots recommended and required for college-aged students are offered at Olin, said Moorer. The flu shots are $20 if students pay up front. More expensive shots like Gardasil to prevent cervical cancer run around $156 per shot, and women need three of them, said Moorer.

The university offers a plan called the Chickering Group. Olin, to help reduce costs for students without insurance, checks to see if they are eligible for Medicaid or recommends them to check out the Ingham County Health Plan. After not needing insurance, Bilan now is looking into the Chickering Group, which she said would charge her about $100 a month. 

“Having to deal with these things, fresh out of being a kid, is very stressful,” said Bilan. “I have to worry about school, making money for myself, on top of everything else, I have to worry about medical stuff. I think medical stuff in general, not just with school, is underestimated.”