Rutgers health services fee -- where did that money go.

Colleges & Universities A-Z Rutgers University
1

<p><a href="http://www.studentabc.rutgers.edu/misc/studentinsurance.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.studentabc.rutgers.edu/misc/studentinsurance.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"For many years, Rutgers helped students meet this obligation by providing the required coverage as part of the student health services fee."</p>

<p>"In response to concerns raised by students and their families, beginning with the fall 2011 semester health insurance coverage will no longer be included in the student health services fee."</p>

<p>"As a result, Rutgers has received many requests from families of already insured students asking the university to end the mandatory health insurance fee and give families the choice of using their existing private coverage."</p>

<p>So, we would have expected that we will no longer pay the hidden "mandatory health insurance fee" for the coming fall semester. And if we actually take a look at the bill -- we would have no clue where such fee is reflected in the bill. In addition, we are required to either provide evidences for current health insurance coverage or subscribe to the united health care plan.</p>

<p>An example bill for spring 2011 semester enrolling in engineering school:</p>

<p>COMPUTER FEE $144.25
TARGUM $10.75
CAMPUS FEE $1,127.00
COURSE/OTHER FEES $30.00
SCHOOL FEE $45.50
TUITION $5,512.00</p>

<p>An example bill for the fall 2011 semester in engineering school, in which we expected the "mandatory health insurance fee" to be excluded.</p>

<p>COMPUTER FEE $147.00
TARGUM $10.75
CAMPUS FEE $1,125.25
COURSE/OTHER FEES $17.00
SCHOOL FEE $60.50
TUITI0N $5,611.00 </p>

<p>See the differences? Anyone have any idea where that "mandatory health insurance fee" is in the bill for spring 2011 semester?</p>

<p>Of course, it is possible that 1.) the hidden mandatory health insurance fee worth only few dollars, 2.) the increase in any of the items above have offset the changes, and result in whatever we see right now, or 3.) a combination of the above. 4.) whatever reasons that we can imagine -- interesting.</p>

2

<p>No idea. But now my head hurts.</p>

3

<p>I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who was totally confused. I got an email a while back; I didn’t even know we were automatically covered and had to pay for it.</p>

4

<p>Interesting. My bills didn’t change much either and now I have to pay extra $750 for health insurance. Maybe people shouldn’t have pushed for a change?
I know that we are still paying a mandatory health services fee included in the school fee so we can use their health centers, etc. but I don’t see where ~$750 would have been in last spring semester’s bill.</p>

5

<p>I’d like to meet these people who complained …</p>

6

<p>mines looks like this :
Charges
COMPUTER FEE $147.00
PIRG $11.20
CAMPUS FEE $911.25
HOUSING $3,756.50
SCHOOL FEE $36.75
TUITI0N $5,052.00
Tuition & Fees: $9,914.70</p>

<p>HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS $375.00</p>

<ul>
<li>yesterday I received a mail explaining everything covered in my insurance… So for me it wasn’t that hidden :p</li>
</ul>

7

<p>No, hidden as in where were we paying for Aetna insurance before? If they got rid of the hidden Aetna fee, shouldn’t our fees be less? But instead, we’re paying about the same or even more than before?</p>

<p>My Fall 2010:
COMPUTER FEE $144.25
CAMPUS FEE $1,127.00
HOUSING $3,418.00
COURSE/OTHER FEES $200.00 - for lab not for aetna
SCHOOL FEE $45.50
TUITION $5,612.00</p>

<p>My Fall 2011:
COMPUTER FEE $147.00
CAMPUS FEE $1,125.25
HOUSING $3,753.00
SCHOOL FEE $53.00
TUITI0N $5,713.00
-----PLUS!
HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS $375.00 for UnitedHealthCare</p>

<p>So as you can see the numbers are about the same but now with a TRANSPARENT health insurance fee I pay more. The only reason I can think of is that what we got from Aetna was a secondary insurance as opposed to primary.</p>

8

<p>reply to #4</p>

<p>Quoted from the email:</p>

<p>“beginning with the fall 2011 semester health insurance coverage will no longer be included in the student health services fee”</p>

<p>Ah…Now that I re-read this sentence, it’s actually REALLY INTERESTING.</p>

<p>Basically this is saying that they are taking out the health insurance coverage – and still charge us the student health services fee (Most likely the same amount).</p>

<p>So where are the people who complained about the previous policy? I guess they should keep complaining then.</p>

9

<p>^Yup, so we lost insurance coverage but still paying the same amount in health services fee.</p>

<p>I understand where those people who complain are coming from. When I had Aetna from Rutgers, my doctors could not claim directly from my primary insurance and had to go full circle, declining claims, before they got their $$.</p>

10

<p>Welcome to the world of fungible.</p>

11

<p>If you have State insurance you have the right to waive the student health insurance which is about $375 per semester. If your a full time student at Rutgers and you don’t have State insurance you MUST have the student health insurance. Hope this helps.</p>