uiargonaut.com
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Idaho
Weighing the options Percentage of medical costs paid by health plan
Percentage of medical costs paid by individual
60
Bronze
70
Silver
40 30
To build a SHIP SHIP evolves alongside state and federal regulations, ACA George Wood Jr. Argonaut
80
Gold
20
90
Platinum
10
Usually requires indivdual to cover cost up to certain amount, usually several thousand dollars.
Catastrophic
Cashing in on coverage
Information courtesy of Your Health Idaho.
Vandals looking to jump SHIP review insurance options George Wood Jr. Argonaut
Browsing for health insurance may not be the first activity University of Idaho students want to do over winter break, but with open enrollment for the Idaho health insurance exchange ending Feb. 15, this was exactly what junior Samira Obeid set out to accomplish during Thanksgiving break. “I’m a college student paying for everything myself, so I decided to see what was out there,” Obeid said. “It’s required to have to go to school, so it’s probably something you should check into to make a decision.” Currently, Obeid is enrolled
News brief Moscow High bomb threat The Moscow Police Department is investigating a bomb threat received Monday morning at Moscow High School. The Moscow School District canceled classes at the school for the remainder of the day. Police cleared the high school in the afternoon after officers searched the building and determined the threat was unfounded. Police said there are no suspects at this time and are asking members of the Moscow community to call (208) 882-2677 with any information they may have regarding the incident. Students are expected to return to school as normal Tuesday morning.
in the UI Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP). SHIP costs students $979 per semester and covers students year-round, according to SHIP Manager Lori Krasselt, who estimated between 22-25 percent of the student body is enrolled in the plan. Krasselt said many other students are covered under their parents’ insurance plans. Due to provisions of the Affordable Care Act, which became law in 2010, students covered by their parent’s health insurance remain eligible for coverage until they are 26 years old. The ACA gives people the option to browse the federal health insurance exchange or their home state’s website. Krasselt said while she has not personally checked out the insurance exchange websites, she’s heard from
George Wood Jr. | Argonaut
UI junior Samira Obeid reviews her health insurance options on the Your Health Idaho exchange website Monday. Obeid pays for college on her own and decided to scout out alternatives to SHIP to save money and find acceptable insurance coverage.
SEE coverage, PAGE 5
Even before the Affordable Care Act was upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, the University of Idaho Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) was already evolving to meet anticipated ACA standards in a way SHIP Manager Lori Krasselt said is not too financially jarring for students. “We started making adjustments to SHIP when it became apparent that the ACA would become finalized and approved,” she said. “We … added benefits and increased premiums slightly over a number of years, rather than waiting till it was approved and making major changes and increases.” SHIP was launched in 2001, Krasselt said, after the State Board of Education enacted a requirement for all students enrolled in Idaho universities to be covered under a health insurance plan. Prior to this requirement, UI worked with local insurance agents to offer students health insurance resources. The early versions of SHIP changed over the years, and it now has the methods to make sure students are covered. Krasselt said several years ago, only a randomized group of students with health insurance were audited, but now, every student’s policy is inspected by an outside agency to check for consistency with UI requirements. Krasselt said SHIP has been in line with ACA requirements SEE ship, PAGE 5
community
A market with meaning
Redefining gift giving, local charities
Corrin Bond Argonaut
The holiday season is known as a time of giving, which, as Dianne Daley Laursen points out, can be particularly stressful on a college budget. Daley Laursen, co-founder of the Alternative Giving Market of the Palouse, paired up with Renee Hill in 2009 to provide Moscow residents with what she said was a meaningful affordable alternative to gift giving that shows appreciation for loved ones during the holiday season while also supporting local nonprofits. “The clincher when we first started was to give meaningful gifts from the heart,” Daley Laursen said. “It’s a way to support nonprofits in the Palouse and it is a way to give family and friends something more than just another pair of socks or a scarf during the holidays.” The Alternative Giving Market is open throughout the year, but Dec. 13 the market closes for the SEE market, PAGE 5
Jett Jones | Argonaut
Jeanne McHale from Friends of the Clearwater sits at their booth at the Alternative Giving Market event Dec. 3. The Market will have a booth at the Palouse Empire Mall Saturday, which is the last day to donate for the holidays.
IN THIS ISSUE
Men’s hockey club skates past WSU with 12-6 victory Saturday. sports, 6 News, 1
Sports, 6
Opinion, 9
UI takes important step to address sexual assault. Read Our View.
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Opinion, 9 University of Idaho
Volume 116, Issue no. 30
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