Health Insurance | Student Health Insurance Mandate

February 4, 2012 – 4:40 am

Amongst the fiery debate rejuvenated by the recent onslaught of presidential primaries and caucuses, Clemson University officials are reviewing the current policies surrounding University-provided health insurance.

New federal regulations imposed by the Affordable Care Act will require all Clemson University students to have health insurance by 2014.

“Currently, proof of health insurance is not required for undergraduate students, though Federal law will make coverage mandatory in 2014,” says Clemson Graduate Student GovernmentSecretary of Health and Student Services Elspeth Murday. The only student populations currently offered University health insurance are graduate and international students.

“Proof of health insurance is required for all graduate and foreign students as part of an effort to attract and retain competitive applicants by offering an inexpensive plan,” Murday said. “Many graduate and professional students choose a university based on benefits like a good health insurance plan.”

Other institutions throughout the region are also beginning to make similar changes to the structure and scope of their own university health insurance programs.

“All North Carolina schools now require student coverage because it makes the price so inexpensive,” Murday said. “Georgia is also making the shift to comply with 2014 regulations, and most Georgia schools (for example, Emory) already require proof of insurance.”

Current Health Sciences senior Zak James believes it is an unfair regulation when considering that

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