CANO-SANTIAGO: All U.Va. students have the right to health insurance – The

Last fall, Student Council successfully negotiated for an Aetna Student Health Insurance grant beginning next fall for approximately 270 to 320 low-income students at the University. This huge accomplishment came after years of advocacy by Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action, and will provide relief to many low-income students across Grounds. While this is an important step, the fact that these negotiations even had to take place calls for greater scrutiny and deeper introspection. Further, these negotiations only culminated in a four-year trial run of the program, which means future low-income students are not guaranteed insurance under this new policy. The University must ensure that low-income students for generations to come are protected and insured — no student should have to worry about how they will afford their health insurance or medical costs.

It is important to first acknowledge the achievements and implications of this new grant. This is a momentous feat of student-led governance and has positive implications for the many low-income students who may rely on various forms of need-based aid to pay for their tuition. Accordingly, they may have also struggled to afford health insurance — which often costs upwards of $13,000 over four years — as required by University policy. It is similarly important to understand the scope of the new grant. The grant first began as a resolution proposed during a fall 2021 Student Council meeting, which asked the University to approve $1.5 million per year to cover health insurance costs under Aetna Student Health for eligible in-state and out-of-state students. The University agreed to a $1 million per year health insurance grant.

Despite all the positives, healthcare may continue to be out of reach for many low-income students. It is inexcusable that thousands of former low-income students had to graduate $13,000 or more in debt because of their inability to purchase insurance. There is also the question of accessibility to this healthcare for current students. Within Charlottesville, students have the ability to visit the Student Health Building for various health services free of cost. However, many students — especially out-of-state and international students — may continue to struggle to afford insurance when seeking care outside Charlottesville. Similarly, the insurance acts as more of a discount plan on services such as eyecare and dental, but is no substitute for other medical insurance plans such as state Medicaid or private insurance plans. 

As a low-income student myself who is fortunate to attend the University under a full scholarship that includes a health insurance plan, I know the struggle to afford medical visits does not end with having health insurance. I have Aetna Student Health Insurance, but the $350 yearly deductible has kept me from using my insurance outside of Grounds — something I did not have to worry about on my government-issued insurance, which I could only use in my home state. Under my state Medicaid program, I may not have had a range of…