Medical Fees at UW-L

With our economy's current financial crisis and UW-L's budget crunch, many students want to know where their tuition is going and if they are being treated fairly. The university requires each student to pay a segregated fee towards the Student Health Center each semester. According to the Cashier's Office website, a segregated fee describes charges in addition to "instructional fees that are assessed to all students for services, programs, and facilities that support the primary mission of the university." However, these fees sometimes function more like a tax as the Apportionment Committee rather than the students have control over how they are distributed. This spring, each student with over seven credits paid at least $120.20 towards the Student Health Center, if not more. Where does all this money go? Dr. Brian Allen, the Director of Student Health, explained that all the segregated fees are applied directly to campus for necessary costs and salaries. The segregated Student Health Center fee is used for the operational cost to run the Student Health Center and Physical Therapy Clinic as well as all the salaries of employees working there. The Student Health Center also funds four positions with Counseling and Testing Services and makes up 25% of the Wellness Resource Center positions on campus. The Counseling and Testing Services Center is available to all students to get help in resolving conflicts, solving problems, choosing a major, career testing, handling crisis situations, making decisions, and developing better coping skills. It also offers workshops and individual sessions on academic skills such as: note taking, text book study, test preparation, managing test anxiety, test taking skills, vocabulary, and speed reading. In contrast to UW-L, Viterbo University does not require any fee for use of their health services according to Kevin Ganther, Viterbo's Director of Student Billing/Accounts Receivable, and Western Technical College students taking more than six credits pay a segregated fee of only $100 a semester compared to UW-L's $120.20. It is unclear why Viterbo does not require a segregated fee but students aren't complaining. Amy Braaksma, a student at Viterbo University, explained that "it's nice to not have to worry about a separate fee for health services. Viterbo's tuition might me slightly higher than UW-L's but it is the little perks such as this that I really enjoy." Some students at UW-L disagree on whether or not the mandatory segregated fees should be implemented. Kayla Wandsnider, a freshman student at UW-L, stated that "students should get to choose what they want their money spent on. It is theirs after all. If Viterbo doesn't have to pay the segregated fee, why should we? Most students are low already on money and tuition is high as it is." Jamie Kronberger, a five year senior at UW-L, respectfully disagreed and stated, "the segregated fees go toward good services that students use; we cannot not expect a public institution to pay for itself." A common misconception among some students is that those that already have health insurance are paying for those who want their insurance through the campus through segregated fees they pay. Although student health insurance is available through the campus, the health center does not take or require students to have it and it is paid for solely by the purchaser. As stated on UW-L's Domestic Students Insurance Information flyer, an annual health insurance premium costs $1,142. Those who are already covered by their own health insurance do not pay anything. There is also optional intercollegiate sports insurance available for $485 annually for all sports and $243 for all sports excluding football. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain supplemental hospital-accident insurance to cover such expenses as: hospitalization, emergency services, specialist care, pharmacy, and ambulance transport. These costs are not covered by the Student Health Fee. The Student Assurance Services Student Health Insurance injury and sickness plan provides 24-hour worldwide coverage during the policy term. None of the profit from student health insurance goes towards insurance companies. Viterbo University, like UW-L, does not require non-intercollegiate athletic students to have health insurance. The main difference is that Viterbo does not have a campus insurance plan at all. Kevin Ganther, Viterbo's Director of Student Billing/Accounts Receivable stated that, "we do provide information and applications to interested students for a couple of plans that are administered by insurance agencies outside of the university, but our university does not administer a campus insurance plan." Our segregated fees may be applied to good use, but the true controversy lies in whether or not they are being applied to what the students truly want. Regardless of where they go, these fees will, unquestionably, be with us for an indefinite amount of time.

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