2008 Woodie Awards
UA offers insurance plan to ease health care costs
April Ford
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: News
With the high price of tuition, books and fees, college students sometimes find themselves burdened by unforeseen health care costs. For UA students, the Pat Walker Health Center offers many services free-of-charge, although not every visit leaves the pocketbook unscathed.
Among the fees that make up a UA student's cost of attendance is the Student Health Fee, which covers most of the general services offered at the health center. Students are charged $6.77 for each credit hour, and in return receive care by a physician, registered nurse or other health care professional with no out-of-pocket costs, according to the PWHC Web site. The health fee also covers visits to Counseling and Psychological Services as well as to the Women's Health Clinic.
But the health fee is not all-encompassing, and for many services outside of general office visits, students are left with the bill. With many vaccines more than $30 and laboratory tests up to $32, health care costs can quickly escalate.
The prices for some immunizations rise even higher. Vaccinations for meningitis and Hepatitis A and B range from $100 to $165, according to a PWHC pricing list.
For many UA students, health insurance helps to ease the financial burden of paying for prescriptions, shots and other services not covered by the health fee.
Health insurance companies such as Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Preferred Community Choice provide coverage of basic medical care, usually with a co-payment between $5 and $20, according to the Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas Web site.
Between 70 and 80 percent of UA students use health insurance to cover health care costs, said Mary Alice Serafini, PWHC director.
While many of those students are covered by an insurance plan provided by a parent's employer, some choose to enroll in the student health insurance offered through the UA.
Underwritten by the United HealthCare Insurance Company and endorsed by the Associated Student Government, the student health insurance plan at the UA provides a basic medical policy with the option for major medical coverage.
Among the fees that make up a UA student's cost of attendance is the Student Health Fee, which covers most of the general services offered at the health center. Students are charged $6.77 for each credit hour, and in return receive care by a physician, registered nurse or other health care professional with no out-of-pocket costs, according to the PWHC Web site. The health fee also covers visits to Counseling and Psychological Services as well as to the Women's Health Clinic.
But the health fee is not all-encompassing, and for many services outside of general office visits, students are left with the bill. With many vaccines more than $30 and laboratory tests up to $32, health care costs can quickly escalate.
The prices for some immunizations rise even higher. Vaccinations for meningitis and Hepatitis A and B range from $100 to $165, according to a PWHC pricing list.
For many UA students, health insurance helps to ease the financial burden of paying for prescriptions, shots and other services not covered by the health fee.
Health insurance companies such as Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Preferred Community Choice provide coverage of basic medical care, usually with a co-payment between $5 and $20, according to the Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas Web site.
Between 70 and 80 percent of UA students use health insurance to cover health care costs, said Mary Alice Serafini, PWHC director.
While many of those students are covered by an insurance plan provided by a parent's employer, some choose to enroll in the student health insurance offered through the UA.
Underwritten by the United HealthCare Insurance Company and endorsed by the Associated Student Government, the student health insurance plan at the UA provides a basic medical policy with the option for major medical coverage.
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