Students across campus are playing a game of Russian roulette on a daily basis. The stakes are high and many have yet to lose, but those who have face a world of interminable bills and a debt of proportions they never dreamed possible.

The players don’t play because of bravado, or thoughtlessness. They take their chances because a student’s budget doesn’t make room for the purchase of a safety net that may or may not be needed.

The cost of health insurance consistently increases with each coming year. Despite being in the 18 to 34 age group least prone to illness, the cost of this financial safety net has become increasingly out of reach for college students. About one-third of SF State students are uninsured, according to Student Health Services. Those who could conceivably eke out an insurance premium each month often forego the expense, hoping that their youth, health and caution will carry them, which it may or may not do.
Tiffany Le, a 21-year-old biology major said she worries all the time about not having health coverage.

“Accidents can happen,” she said, “I also know someone who had appendicitis and had no insurance. It was very expensive.”

David Harelson, anthropology major, 26, knows the consequences of receiving medical care uninsured.

“My car’s insured but I’m not,” he said. “If I get hurt I’ll be sorry.”

One of the options students may consider is the CSU health insurance offered through the Associated Students. Most services are covered by this plan, and the student is responsible for covering 20 percent of the bill in most cases. There is a set fee for each semester period it is offered and no monthly premiums. For February through September, students under the age of 24 pay $446, those 25-30 pay $599 and students between the ages of 31-40 pay $817.50.

However, the fee is the same for students enrolled in the start of the semester, and for those who join later. Students must re-enroll after each semester.

Le’s hesitation toward buying health insurance is partly due to the time it takes to sift through the multitude of coverage choices.

SHS educator Albert Angelo explained a series of terms, which should be evaluated step by step in order for students to decide which policy is most suitable for them.

With most premiums ranging from $40 to $200 per month for those under age 30, students need to be aware that paying a lower premium usually means receiving less coverage.

A low monthly premium typically dictates a higher deductible - the amount the insured must pay that year before the insurance kicks in. A policy with a $50 monthly premium, for example, may not cover any costs until the patient has paid $5,000 of their own money for medical bills. On the other hand, a higher premium of $80 per month will usually correspond with a lower deductible.

Furthermore, students need to consider the actual coverage once the insurance goes into effect. The range is from 70 percent to 100 percent of the expenses covered. One day of hospitalization costs between $1,500 and $3,000, a weeklong hospital stay at 70 percent coverage will cost upwards of $6,300 and this does not include bills for treatment.

Those comparing insurance also need to know what the yearly maximum out-of-pocket limit is. This limit dictates when the insurance will cover 100 percent of the cost instead of 80 percent for example. If the limit is $4,000, the patient will not pay more than that amount for medical care in that year. In some cases the deductible counts toward the out-of-pocket maximum, and sometimes it is separate.
Other students are fortunate enough to either afford insurance or qualify for coverage under a parent’s health plan.

As a full-time student, cinema major Andy George, 20, is covered under his mother’s health insurance until the age of 23.

“It’s important to have because I’m accident prone, and I also drive, which is an added liability,” George said.

Zhenya Warshavsky, 22, a comparative world literature major, is also covered under his parents’ insurance but is uncertain of what will happen after graduation when his coverage lapses.
“I would definitely be ambivalent about purchasing it,” he said, due to its high cost.

If someone shopping for insurance has had ongoing health issues, such as diabetes or asthma, they need to know about pre-existing limitations on the policies.

According to Angelo, it is important to be aware of the coverage differences in each policy. Some policies have comprehensive prescription coverage, while others have prescription co-pays.Some offer no prescription benefits at all.

Taking the time to research insurance policies, and pay the monthly bill can save a lot of heartache down the road.

For example, benefits for maternity, diabetes, or acupuncture vary greatly with each plan, according to Angelo.

“Insurance is the one thing you never know you need, until you really need it,” Angelo said.