Student Health Center offers revised health insurance plan

     While sifting through and comparing health insurance providers can be a migraine-inducing experience, the UCCS Student Health Center hopes to simplify the process.

     The Student Health Center is offering a newly revised health insurance plan with a lower deductible and out-of-pocket expense. The enrollment date has also been pushed back to Sept. 21.

     “It’s nice coming here. Everything that we offer here, including the medications, [is] covered,” said Melissa Kuykendall, health insurance coordinator. “And as a parent, there are no worries coming here.”

     Located in the lower level of the parking garage, the center hopes that students can achieve their degrees without having to worry about their health.

    “The premium is significantly less, the deductible is significantly lower and it’s a richer plan. It has more benefits in it,” said Stephanie Hanenberg, family nurse practitioner and director of the Student Health Center.

     The 80 percent/20 percent Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan covers whatever students may need, from surgery and maternity to a simple strep test.

     The PPO prices have been reduced from the previous plan with a lower deductible of $250 and an out-of-pocket expense of $2,500. Students also receive a dental discount package with the plan.

     With the new plan, the Student Health Center aims to prevent students from falling into debt due to medical bills.

     “We have had people on the plan that have had to have some significant surgeries,” Hanenberg said. “They have no idea something is wrong and then have had to have open-heart surgery. They would have probably had a $500,000 medical bill if they hadn’t had health insurance.”

     Enrollment for the plan is available for most students. To enroll, undergraduate students must be taking at least nine credit hours and graduate students at least six credit hours. Even students in some of the certificate programs are eligible for enrollment.

     For more information or to enroll, visit the Student Health Center’s website (uccs.edu/shc) and click the Student Health Insurance tab.

     From here students can find the link for the enrollment site. Payment is due at the time of enrollment, and there are options to pay annually or per semester.