The University has implemented changes for international student health coverage, and some students are not happy with the changes.

Last Spring, the Health Service Advisory Committee passed a requirement that international students must purchase the University-sponsored health insurance plan. The requirement became effective Aug. 1.

According to Student Insurance Specialist Ann Cromley, the change has been implemented because of a lack of adequate insurance for international students.

‘In the recent past, it has been our experience that international students who purchase health insurance coverage through outside carriers have often found themselves [underinsured] when they needed the coverage the most,’ she said via e-mail. ‘Health care in the United States is very expensive and we have seen firsthand how devastating the lack of insurance can be. The University feels that this new policy is crucial to the health, wellness and success of our international students.’

The plan being offered to international students is the same plan offered to domestic students. It is through Aetna and it costs $1,242 per year.

There are exceptions to the requirement. Students covered by a government or embassy sponsor do not need to purchase the plan. The same goes for students who are covered as a U.S.-based employee or students who receive coverage by being a dependent of a U.S.-based employee.

Some international students are not happy with the changes, concerned with the lack of dental and vision coverage.

Budha Chowdhury is an international graduate student who is not satisfied with the changes.

In the past he purchased cheaper insurance from another provider and was able to afford separate dental and vision coverage. While paying for the University plan, he can no longer afford this. It cost him less to fly home to India to see a dentist than to see one here.

‘I don’t mind paying for University insurance, but the coverage should be better,’ Chowdhury said. ‘If I’m paying more than $1,000 and my two major problems are not covered, why should I pay all this?’

Zeynep Kocer is another international graduate student who has had problems finding a place that accepts the University’s coverage for dental and vision.

‘It is very difficult to find someone who accepted this Aetna insurance,’ she said.

They also dislike the way payments are now collected. In the past, the University deducted $65 from each paycheck. Students now have two options: They must either pay the full amount up front or pay in four installments. However, the University has added an installment fee of about $35 for each payment.

International students also received very little information about this ahead of time. They found out about a week before the semester started that they were expected to pay for their insurance up front.

‘Nobody told anything to us,’ Kocer said.

‘We knew we had to pay for this insurance, but nobody told us up front,’ Chowdhury added.

Making the insurance optional again could benefit some international students.

‘It’s just an additional headache we don’t need,’ Chowdhury said.