More money could be in students' pockets this fall after receiving medical care.
The Council of Presidents, made of the three Arizona university presidents, reviewed a renewal plan Tuesday that would lower the rate of student health insurance by 8.2 percent.
Students would save about $120 throughout the year, said Dr. Gary Septon, director of the ASU Student Health and Wellness Center. Fall semester rates would decrease from $488 to $448, and spring semester rates would decrease from $683 to $627.
ASU's student insurance plan totals $1,171 a year. With the lowered cost, the new price is $1,075 annually. Comparatively, UC San Diego charges $627 per year for undergraduates and a similar $1,173 for graduates.
The rate decreased because students in Arizona were healthier with less serious illness than anticipated for last year, Septon said.
The plan could be implemented in August for the fall semester.
Discounts were also added to the insurance program as prices decreased. There is a 5 percent discount for pharmacy costs and other discounts for visits to an eye doctor; alternative medicine, such as chiropractic care and acupuncture; dental care; and preventative medical care, such as nutritional counseling.
United HealthCare is the HMO administrating the student health insurance. Representatives from the health centers at ASU, UA and NAU put together the new plan. They meet twice a year to develop proposals about price adjustments to negotiate with the health provider.
The decrease was decided earlier this semester and has been waiting for council review.
"What's unusual and interesting is that student health insurance premiums went down and benefits have gone up," Septon said. "Most insurance rates have gone up significantly."
All three universities are connected through this insurance plan to keep costs down, Septon said.
Prices are the same between the universities, said Arthur Ashton, assistant executive director for strategic planning at the Arizona Board of Regents. The pool even opens the opportunity for students of one university to use the facilities of another Arizona university if needed.
The student health insurance can also cover the cost of a referral to another provider if an individual needed specialized care, testing or a hospital stay.
"We feel all students should have insurance because you never know if there's going to be an accident or serious illness," Septon said. "Hospitalization can cost thousands of dollars, and this happens to students every year."
Septon said 75 percent to 80 percent of ASU students have health insurance through the University.
Journalism and mass communication and business junior Christina Wong used to have the student health insurance but currently opts for another plan.
"I wouldn't get the insurance for an 8 percent decrease, the insurance is so expensive for the benefits you get from it," she said. "The only thing that was covered was if I got hit by a car, and there's as much of a chance of that as getting struck by lightning."
Wong said she would like to see cheaper prescriptions because it is currently cheaper for her to buy them off campus.
Reach the reporter at courtney.bonnell@asu.edu.
