Asking students to increase their tuition fees by almost $300per semester for a health insurance plan is the subject of a newAssociated Students, Inc. resolution.

The Student Health Insurance Plan resolution would makepurchasing health insurance mandatory for all Sacramento Statestudents. The measure will be introduced at the first ASI Boardmeeting on Sept. 17. The proposal, if passed by a two-thirdsmajority of the board, would then be voted on by students duringthe Spring 2004 ASI elections.

Under the proposed plan, students taking six units or more wouldbe required to pay $286.99 per semester for a comprehensive healthinsurance plan run by Somerton Student Insurance Services, theofficial insurance provider at Sac State.

The fee would have to be paid each semester, but students whoare already covered by a comprehensive insurance plan would havetheir money refunded at the beginning of each semester.

The fee, which would be added to the current ASI fee of $111 persemester paid by students, includes $280 for the cost of the plan,$5 for the Health Center to help manage the increase in patients,and $1.99 for administrative costs for ASI. This would includehiring a full-time supervisor to manage the plan.

In addition to the base plan, students would have the option ofpurchasing additional coverage for dependants. After a studentgraduates, they would not have the option to continue buyingcoverage from Sac State.

The plan would make the Health Center the primary care providerfor students, and would allow the health center to refer patientsto other doctors if necessary.

“One third of students at Sac State are uninsured,” said ASIVice President of University Affairs Joshua Wood, author of theresolution. “And almost half are underinsured. CSUS InstitutionalResearch also has found that medical problems are listed as why 18percent of undergraduates drop out.

Currently, no university in the California State Universitysystem has a SHIP. The University of California system has adopteda system-wide insurance plan.

ASI has received letters of support for the plan from theAmerican Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, theSierra-Sacramento Valley Medical Society and California StateSenator Deborah Ortiz.