patrick.net

so, having been given very little information in advance, i have been informed that unless i can provide proof of alternate coverage, my student account will be charged (and it has been) over $500 this quarter for health coverage by Portland State University. other than the blanket emails and warnings about obtaining necessary waivers, i have only been sent a membership card with few or no details about how this insurance is going to work.

http://pdx.edu/shac/insurance-information

without looking into the actual benefits in practice, or how one might use this 'service' in order to get their money's worth out of it, it seems to me, as a bonehead who has not yet done the research, to be a sign of things to come with the infamously-monikered Obamacare. it also seems as a blatant way for the school to cover its behind at the students' expense should someone fall down the stairwell and crack their heads or go into anaphylactic shock due to a bee stinging them on campus property. i'm sure the university carries its own insurance for such matters, but is this adoption of third-party insurance for which we pay an attempt to spread the risk of paying large claims?

what's y'all's take?

edited to add: since most traditional students are usually still covered under their family plans, i believe this impacts non-traditional students disproportionately.

#politics