The Student Senate voted in favor of the health care freedom act Wednesday night.
THe bill opposes the implementation of mandatory health insurance on all campuses of the UNC system and aims to discourage the BOG from requiring all students to have health insurance in order to be enrolled at any system university.
The bill estimates that 10 percent of the undergraduate enrollment at NCSU, around 2,200 students, are uninsured and projected costs for health insurance would average about $600 per year.
“Health insurance shouldn’t be a requirement to get an education,” Sen. Jeanne Chen, a junior in biochemistry, said.
Chen, who sits on the standing committee on student health, said students already pay a student health fee, and adding mandatory health insurance to education costs is limiting to low-income families.
“Adding insurance on top of fees is a double whammy,” Chen said, adding that while mandatory health insurance benefits smaller universities, it could hurt N.C. State’s affordability.
“We’re asking the Board of Governors to see N.C. State is different,” she said.
Senator Justin Brackett said the current financial status of the economy makes it a bad time to increase student expenses.
“Right now, we’re in bad economic times,” Brackett said. “It’s not fair to anybody to impose more costs on students.”
Brackett also said the policy would keep many students from being able to attend college.
“They’re basically telling students if they don’t have or can’t afford health insurance, then they can’t come to school,” he said.
Student Body Treasurer-elect Elmo Lamm opposed the bill, and said the mandatory health insurance is an opportunity for students get health insurance at a lower rate.
“I oppose the bill because I support affordable health insurance for all students,” Lamm said. “Students wouldn’t have the opportunity for the good rates if it wasn’t mandatory.”
Brackett said the bill would likely not affect “rich families,” adding that it would be the students who already struggle to pay expenses who would suffer the most.
“It’s going to hurt poor families on the borderline who can’t afford it,” Brackett said. “The students who are trying to pull themselves up with an education, but [if they can’t afford the education,] they can’t do it. They have no chance to do it.”
Lamm said an increase in aid will help alleviate the extra costs associated with the health insurance expenses.
“There’s an expected financial aid increase that should help with expenses,” Lamm said. “The more aid you need to meet your needs, the more the aid [pays], and expected family contribution[s go] down.”
Brackett said the BOG’s proposal isn’t conducive to the education of the state’s students and that the extra costs would help no one.
“It goes against the purpose of the University,” Brackett said. “I think it’s a bad policy for everybody.”
The Board of Governors had the mandatory health care proposal on the agenda for its meeting last Friday but did not discuss it after it proved controversial, according to Student Senate President Greg Doucette.
“When it was discovered that there was student opposition, it was pulled off the agenda,” Doucette said.
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tom Stafford said the BOG will discuss the matter before its next meeting May 8.
