Harvard Will No Longer Require Insurance for Students Under University's Health Plan

Students will no longer be required to enroll in the University Health Service's insurance plan if they are covered by an alternate policy, officials at UHS said yesterday.

Martin F. Peterson, associate director for finances and administration of UHS, said yesterday that the plan has been an unnecessary expense for many students who are already under a family insurance policy.

Students will receive a waiver form in the mail before school starts, giving them the option of refusing the University's insurance.

Unforeseen Dangers

Peterson said the new option may present unforeseen dangers if students are unfamiliar with the specifics of their family policy. "A student could get sick," he said, "and then discover that his family insurance doesn't cover that particular illness."

UHS also announced that the student health plan will now cover up to $50 of ambulance charges. In the past, the ambulance expenses were only covered up to $35.

The student health plan is under Blue COLLEGE  TYPE OF PLAN  PREMIUM  SAMPLE BENEFITS Harvard  Blue Cross Blue Shield  $60.72  Abortions, dental, eye refraction not covered Outpatient covered only in accidents. Yale  Own Plan  $75  Abortions, outpatient fully covered. Dental not covered. Psychiatric care partially covered. Columbia  Private Continental Insurance  $27 First Semester $38 Second  Abortion covered only if physical illness, complications. Outpatient covered. Not covered; dentistry on eye exams. Princeton  Private: New York Life  $29  Not covered: Abortions, outpatient, dentistry, eye exams. Brown  Private: St. Paul Co. of East Providence  $31.75  Abortions and outpatient are covered Pittsburgh  Blue Cross Blue Shield  $80  Abortions and outpatient are covered

The above graph shows the type of plan, premium rate per student, and sample benefits that are offered by various health plans. All plans include 24-hour, emergency coverage, and provide coverage for a full year. Cross and Blue Shield, with a $60.72 annual premium per student.

Peterson said that the Harvard premium is extremely low compared to those of other university health plans.

However, premiums at Brown and Princeton are $31.75 and $29 a year, respectively. Both universities are covered by private insurance company policies.

The Harvard plan does not cover dental treatment, eye and hearing examinations or annual physical examinations. Out-patient care is only provided in accident cases, and abortions are available only to students covered under the optional family plan

The above graph shows the type of plan, premium rate per student, and sample benefits that are offered by various health plans. All plans include 24-hour, emergency coverage, and provide coverage for a full year. Cross and Blue Shield, with a $60.72 annual premium per student.

Peterson said that the Harvard premium is extremely low compared to those of other university health plans.

However, premiums at Brown and Princeton are $31.75 and $29 a year, respectively. Both universities are covered by private insurance company policies.

The Harvard plan does not cover dental treatment, eye and hearing examinations or annual physical examinations. Out-patient care is only provided in accident cases, and abortions are available only to students covered under the optional family plan