Spring Break
International student health-care fees increasing
Ruth Schmidt
Issue date: 3/12/07 Section: News
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International students at UMKC paid $900 for health insurance this academic year. Next year, international students will pay $967, a 7.4 percent increase. Last year the rate was $843.
The fee is included in their tuition and is not optional.
"It goes up a little every year; there is never a dramatic jump," said Sandra Handley, administrator of Student Health and Wellness.
Approximately 5 percent of students are non-resident, international students, according to the current student profile available on the University Web site. Many of these international students don't use the health-insurance benefits provided by the school or don't understand the policy.
"I guess I haven't used my insurance due to not knowing how I can use my insurance," said Hyder Malik, junior, mechanical engineering. "They need to organize an event where they go through the whole process of what forms we need to fill out."
International students find they are paying more each year for the same policy coverage. With no control over the situation, many are frustrated.
"I feel there should be a constructive solution to this issue by considering the voices of the international students, as they are the ones who are ultimately paying and receiving the coverage," said Harivarun Kalluri, senior, pharmacy.
Cost is not the only problem international students are frustrated with. Some don't know what the plan covers or where to get medical attention.
Handley shed light on the situation.
"The rise in price is not decided by anyone at UMKC," she said. "The price is decided for all four colleges by the Office of Risk and Insurance Management."
Each year the price is raised. Handley was unable to provide the rates from the last 10 years.
The University of Missouri System is made up of four campuses: Columbia, Rolla, St. Louis and Kansas City. The director of Risk and Insurance Management meets yearly with representatives from each college and the insurance company to negotiate rates for the coming year.
The fee is included in their tuition and is not optional.
"It goes up a little every year; there is never a dramatic jump," said Sandra Handley, administrator of Student Health and Wellness.
Approximately 5 percent of students are non-resident, international students, according to the current student profile available on the University Web site. Many of these international students don't use the health-insurance benefits provided by the school or don't understand the policy.
"I guess I haven't used my insurance due to not knowing how I can use my insurance," said Hyder Malik, junior, mechanical engineering. "They need to organize an event where they go through the whole process of what forms we need to fill out."
International students find they are paying more each year for the same policy coverage. With no control over the situation, many are frustrated.
"I feel there should be a constructive solution to this issue by considering the voices of the international students, as they are the ones who are ultimately paying and receiving the coverage," said Harivarun Kalluri, senior, pharmacy.
Cost is not the only problem international students are frustrated with. Some don't know what the plan covers or where to get medical attention.
Handley shed light on the situation.
"The rise in price is not decided by anyone at UMKC," she said. "The price is decided for all four colleges by the Office of Risk and Insurance Management."
Each year the price is raised. Handley was unable to provide the rates from the last 10 years.
The University of Missouri System is made up of four campuses: Columbia, Rolla, St. Louis and Kansas City. The director of Risk and Insurance Management meets yearly with representatives from each college and the insurance company to negotiate rates for the coming year.
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