Student health insurance plan rates increase, benefits expand

The university-option student health insurance cost went up from the previous year after Academic HealthPlans changed companies that underwrite those plans.

The new 2012-2013 student health insurance plan is underwritten by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. The previous plan was provided by ACE American Insurance Company, which was distributed by Academic HealthPlans. Academic HealthPlans works with hundreds of colleges and universities in all 50 states.

The annual cost of the 2011-2012 plan was $798. The 2012-2013 plan costs each student $930, and increase of $132, or 16.5 percent.

One of the largest changes is in the deductible for each plan. In last years plan, the deductible was $50 per person, per sickness or injury. The plan now states it is $100 per customer, per year. For a student with four illnesses a year, that’s a savings of at least $300.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the largest health insurance provider in the state and only one consumer-owned, covering companies such as American Airlines, Brookshire Grocery, Dell, the Employees Retirement System of Texas, Southern Methodist University (SMU), the Texas A&M System, and The University of Texas System.

Students who take six or more credit hours in a physical classroom are eligible for the plan. Spouses and children of those who qualify are also able to get into the plan, but at a higher cost. Information is available online at www.AHPCare.com/shsu.