Colorado State University is requiring undergraduate students to display proof of personal health insurance or be signed up for the CSU program. It seemed simple enough, taking ten minutes to fill out the waiver form, and saving around $1,400.
Which is why it is so baffling to me that so many members of our student body are incredibly mad. Online comments are viciously lashing out at both Colorado State’s administration and the federal government in regards to being charged on student accounts for the CSU plan.
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This may be one of those situations where doing some research first may have cleared up some confusion.
The bill upon which students, under the CSU healthcare plan, are charged is due Feb. 10. Five full days after the deadline for the student waiver form, due Feb. 5.
Notices about the aforementioned waiver form have been going out repeatedly for weeks.
The waiver form is online, takes twenty minutes, even with slow typing, and asks pretty standard information to demonstrate proof of insurance. (As a side note, knowing your health information, or at least carrying proof of health insurance on your person is a good habit to get into.)
The only way your health plan may be rejected is if it fails the following criteria: A full semester of coverage without break, a Maximum Benefit coverage of at least $500,000 a year, no more than a $2,500 deductible, and a U.S. based, law abiding company providing coverage.
Any anger among students aimed at Colorado State is misplaced. They have federally mandated requirements to meet.The university has provided a plethora of opportunities to avoid being charged. If filling out a form is so inconvenient, how is it more expedient to whine on Facebook?
Anger at the federal government makes more sense at first, but lets be sure before shaking our fists in rage. The Affordable Care Act was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, signed by the president of the United States, and deemed constitutional by the Supreme Court.
Anybody can voice their opinions, concerns and issues, you are guaranteed that right under the first Amendment. But at some point students will have to take some responsibility, stop the talk, and take action.
If you disagree with the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act, then go get involved. Change it. Go to a primary election, research your candidate, or use your ability to vote. That has a chance to create the change you seek.
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What won’t create that change is venting about being charged on Facebook without actually trying to find a solution. All that leads to is some comments and likes, and quite possibly some irritated friends. Wouldn’t you rather have that $1,400? Seems like an easy question to me.
Collegian editor at large Zack Burley can be reached at community@collegian.com.
