The U. of U. needs to step up and take real action to show it cares about the lives and futures of its students.
(Trent Nelson | Salt Lake Tribune) People walk on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, January 10, 2022.
As a large research institution, the University of Utah is in many ways renowned for its academic and research capabilities.
It is also known for the poor quality of its so-called Student Health Insurance (SHI) plans. It’s a mistake that confuses students and makes them unsure when or how to get treatment.
Some of its components are finicky, to say the least. The referral process, which on paper is a cost-saving measure, in reality prevents and impedes students from receiving care. The billing system is similarly confusing, leaving students unsure of how much their treatment will cost until they receive a large bill. And let’s not forget that essential health services, such as prescription drugs and vaccines, are in poor condition. If you want your prescription filled, be prepared to spend hours jumping through hoops and getting only a portion of what you paid back. If there is one, I sincerely hope that you do not have long-term medical needs that require a specialist, or sudden short-term medical needs.
Let me give you a personal example.
In my first semester of graduate school, I broke my arm. SHI Plan policy stipulates that no matter how extreme you may be, you must first go to the Student Health Center (SHC). If I had bypassed his SHC and gone to the ER, I would have needed to stay in the hospital overnight for the SHI plan to start. Wait two weeks to see a proper doctor who comes only once a week. When I got there they wrote the order to have a cast on my arm…in Farmington…in a week…because the university hospital didn’t have a doctor to do it. I would rather stick out the pain of a broken arm than risk paying $10,000. When I finally got treatment, my out-of-pocket cost was about $6,000. Is this the quality of care the university wants to be known for and imposes on its students?
Then there was the time I attended a drop-in clinic on campus to receive a potentially life-saving flu and COVID vaccine. Later received a $70 bill. It was a VIP experience of sorts: if you want to pay that much for a shot, you go to a fancy cocktail bar and order a top-notch martini. Instead, I received a bill for the flu vaccine that should have been covered by the SHI plan. Is charging for the air you breathe on campus next?
These two examples are just the tip of the iceberg of how the University of Utah’s SHI plan hurts students. My experience is definitely that of many others. As long as universities continue to treat their students as disposable second-class individuals, the mere thought of being associated with such an institution makes me ashamed. I do not shrug my shoulders at blatant disregard for the well-being and dignity of those who place them.
It’s time for colleges to realize that their actions have consequences and the growing anger of students who are fed up with colleges that put profit before people. If you refuse to make significant changes, you will continue to lose the respect and support of those you claim to serve.
The University of Utah cannot turn a blind eye to the thousands of students affected by the substandard SHI program. Completely disclaim responsibility for student welfare. While bragging about how much they care about the well-being of their students, university officials actively perpetuate the inequalities that put students at physical, emotional, and financial danger. The era of is over. Universities need to step up and take real action to show they care about the lives and futures of their students.
Bryant Novinska-Royce A Salt Lake City resident who graduated from the University of Utah on Friday with a master’s degree in urban planning and urban planning.