Tuesday, January 5, 1999
UCLA insurance helps, not enough
INSURANCE: Alternative to HMOs doesn’t offer dental, eye
coverage to students
By Caridad Lezcano
Daily Bruin Contributor
Many UCLA students take care of their health care needs by
purchasing a plan offered by the university, the Medical Insurance
Plan (MIP).
MIP is a world-wide coverage plan that provides for specialty
doctors, emergency services and prescriptions. Only registered UCLA
students can buy this insurance.
Students say, however, that while MIP is a good deal when
compared with insurance plans offered by health maintenance
organizations (HMOs), it doesn’t cover all of their health care
needs.
"MIP helps, but not enough," said Cynthia Davis, a third-year
biology student.
For example, MIP does not cover dental or eye examinations.
Students must find other ways to cover these services.
"Having to go outside of the UCLA community (for health care) is
often difficult for me and time-consuming," Davis said.
MIP, in conjunction with, the Arthur Ashe Health and Wellness
Center, tries to compensate for what they don’t cover by offering
instructional pamphlets that direct students to community dentists
and optometrists.
The Ashe Center has compiled a list of community dentists in the
immediate area of Westwood Village, as well as in the surrounding
communities. Many of these dentists offer services to UCLA students
at discounted prices.
MIP also addresses student complaints during Student Health
Advisory Committee meetings twice a month. The committee discusses
MIP management and any student complaints. Eight graduate and
undergraduate students appointed by their respective student
governments serve on this committee.
Furthermore, the Student Health Insurance Committee (SHIC) was
formed by undergraduate and graduate students in order to deal with
specific MIP issues. This committee of students and administrators
work to try to improve MIP.
"Each year they meet to discuss the pros and cons of the
insurance plan," said Hoda Shawky, a fourth-year physiological
sciences student and SHIC member.
Hoda said that at the last meeting, SHIC members were
considering adding eye care to MIP.
At the SHIC meetings, Mercer, an insurance consultation company,
provides advice to the student health discussions.
While students wait for additional coverage, MIP administrators
say that often problems with the insurance plan arise from student
misunderstanding.
"It would be nice if students – particularly undergraduates –
would read their insurance handbooks," said Glenda Butcher,
insurance assistant at the Ashe Center.
Butcher is one of the various insurance assistants that talk
students through the often complicated forms and procedures of the
MIP booklet.
Other students, however, purchase their own insurance from HMOs
or pay for their own doctor visits.
"With all the problems HMOs have, I’d rather pay out of pocket,"
said Rebecca Pope, a second-year biology student.
Other undergraduates are covered by their parents’ insurance or
purchase an alternative to MIP.
"Kaiser Permanente differs from MIP because they do offer eye
care," said Jessica Spanic, a first-year undeclared student.
Kaiser Permanente, an HMO, does not cover dental or chiropractic
services. Like MIP, Kaiser’s patients need to search outside of
their health plans if these problems arise.
Like Kaiser, the Ashe Center has a special office set up in
order to deal with the specific problems students have with the
health insurance plan.
"The insurance office is a useful mechanism to address student
concerns," said Michele Pearson, director of Ancillary Services of
the Ashe Center. The insurance assistants agree that students
should not be afraid to ask questions.
"That’s what I’m here for," Butcher said.NICOLE MILLER
The Arthur Ashe Student Wellness Center provides limited health
care to students at UCLA.
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