University Life Council
Minutes of Meeting
November 20, 2006 -- DRAFT
LC 31J
Present:
Dan Smith, Candace Merbler, Julia Filippone, Tim Hoff, Jean-Francois Briere,
Nicholas Fahrenkopf, Nikki Kotary, Bob Yagelski, John Murphy, Michael
Christakis, Kehe Zhu, Gene Bunnell and Joan Savitt (Chair)
Guests:
Dr. Peter Vellis, Director, University Health Center and Carol Stenger,
Coordinator for Health Promotion, University Counseling Center
Meeting commenced at 3:05 p.m.
Chair’s Report
Minutes from November 6, 2006, meeting were approved with two minor changes.
Chair Savitt briefly updated members on current ULC topics. She announced that the Athletics
position has been funded. Details regarding what division the position will fall under and when it
will be filled are still being worked out.
The goal to recognize Veteran’s Day was a success. A brief announcement recognizing past and
current veterans was made at the November 11 home football game. In the future, something
more formal will probably be arranged.
The Task Force on Acquaintance Rape has been renamed to Task Force on Sexual Assault. It is
meeting frequently but Chair Savitt cannot report details on their activities at this time.
Chair Savitt asked for volunteers from ULC to serve on a committee that is working on creating
a student “code of behavior”.
Tim Hoff asked for clarification about the goals of this committee since there is already a current
code of behavior in the form of the University’s “Community Rights & Responsibilities”. Chair
Savitt and other members explained that the attempts to develop a separate code of behavior
seem to run parallel to current issues dealing with academic integrity and would be more of an
overarching code of behavior that all University members should subscribe to. John Murphy
explained that it would be similar to codes that other schools currently have that encourage
behavior that students should aspire to (i.e. SUNY Plattsburgh’s “Plattsburgh Pledge”).
Chair Savitt announced that the creation of an undergraduate “ombudsman” is in the works.
There is currently a “graduate ombudsman” but the issues that undergraduates face are different
from graduate students and as such a separate ombudsman will be created to deal specifically
with undergraduate students.
Mandatory Health Insurance Issue
Dr. Peter Vellis, Director, University Health Center, and Carol Stenger with the University
Counseling Center, presented information via PowerPoint regarding the ongoing issue of
1
mandatory health insurance for students (see attached Addendum A, “Student Health
Insurance”).
Dr. Vellis reviewed each slide and emphasized the issues that specifically pertain to college
students who do not have adequate health insurance (slides 2-5). He also explained some options
that students would have (hard waiver versus mandatory insurance) and answered questions to
some of the more common “arguments” against mandatory health insurance (slides 6-12).
Members were concerned about the financial aspects associated with making insurance
mandatory, especially given statistics provided by Wayne Locust’s office regarding the $1000
financial gap that some of the neediest students are currently facing. Some members were
concerned that making insurance mandatory would force those students who already have
coverage to pay twice for insurance. Dr. Vellis explained that an option might be for students to
reduce their current insurance plans that they have through their parents.
Dr. Vellis stated that currently only 300 students have insurance through the voluntary plan the
University offers and that the total number of UAlbany students who do not have health
insurance is unknown.
There was some discussion about “out of network” coverage that health plans which students
might have through their parents provide. It was concluded that a student who lives in Long
Island would still have adequate insurance coverage in Albany. Dr. Vellis stated that while this is
true for some policies, in certain instances the provider will not accept the insurance or the
individual will have to pay up front for the services, which would not be ideal for a college
student who is already cash-strapped.
The ability of a student to include mandatory insurance in their financial aid was discussed.
Chair Savitt explained that if health insurance was made mandatory, then it would be included in
the school’s total “cost of attendance” which would then enable it be included in financial aid
packages. However, members countered, if a student is already borrowing $1000 to pay for
school, adding on an additional $1000 to their loans for health insurance will put them even
further into debt. Nikki Kotary, undergraduate student representative, emphasized that the cost of
attending school is daunting and many students are carrying a heavy loan load.
Gene Bunnell asked if broader coverage and more participation would affect the premium price.
Dr. Vellis said that when he explored this topic two years ago, he received quotes ranging from
about $800-900 (per student/per year) and he estimated that currently the premiums would
probably cost approximately $1000.
Chair Savitt asked what would make a difference in terms of lowering the price and if there were
other options to assist the uninsured. She also inquired about having insurance for only
“catastrophic coverage” and if this would help keep the costs down. Dr. Vellis answered that
while there were options for just catastrophic coverage, he was unsure how much it would
actually drop down the cost.
Other members asked what the current UAlbany health fee, included in the cost of attendance
covers, and it was explained that it covers basic services through the health center. Dr. Vellis is
hoping to continue to improve the services but due to high costs there are certain things the
University Health Center will not be able to provide (i.e. 24 hour services, x-rays etc.).
2
Dan Smith asked if there was any evidence indicating that institutions with mandatory health
insurance have higher retention and/or graduation rates and Dr. Vellis said that there is no hard
evidence demonstrating this.
Candace Merbler inquired about the services the University Health Center would provide to a
student without insurance. Dr. Vellis explained that all students will receive the same in-house
treatment but if they required services that the Health Center could not provide, and the student
did not have health insurance, the staff would then conduct a “risk benefit” analysis regarding
what might happen if the student did, or did not, follow through and receive treatment.
C. Merbler also asked about coverage for immunizations, flu vaccinations and what would
happen should there be a pandemic. Dr. Vellis stated that immunizations are generally not
covered by any insurance carrier. There was some discussion regarding a pandemic situation, but
members agreed that this would be a catastrophic event in which the safety and health of
individuals would take priority over the lack of health insurance.
ULC members asked about uninsured students going directly to the Emergency Room for care,
under the presumption that the ER would have to provide you with service regardless of your
insurance situation. Dr. Vellis explained that going to an ER does not guarantee you get the full
care you need as there is always the possibility that they will refer you to a specialist.
Additionally, the ER will bill you for services they do provide.
Members agreed that the prevailing issue seems to be how much implementing mandatory health
insurance would raise the cost of attending the University at Albany. Next steps would be to
propose some questions to Wayne Locust, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, regarding
typical tuition costs and fees and researching how much it costs the other University Centers that
currently have mandatory health insurance.
Gene Bunnell asked if this was a State University issue and members discussed the possibility of
a SUNY-wide insurance policy. Chair Savitt also pointed out that international students are
covered by a SUNY-wide policy that requires in-bound students to have insurance and from
which they and out-bound study-abroad students can opt out with a hard-waiver. Dr. Vellis said
that the SUNY Health Council had tried to do a system-wide RFP but it was currently stalled.
ULC members thanked Dr. Vellis for his presentation and agreed it provided good information to
help the committee move forward in dealing with this issue.
Next meeting is December 11, 2006 at 3:00.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nancy Lauricella, Recording Secretary
3