Here is what you need to know about Lakeland’s new insurance requirements and the Affordable Care Act:
• Uninsured undergraduates and those who fail to meet the Dec. 1 waiver deadline will be automatically enrolled in Lakeland College’s health plan and charged $817.60 for seven months of coverage.
• Students may waive Lakeland’s health insurance if they already have insurance or are on their parents’ plan. Waivers can be found in students’ mailboxes or Lakeland email inboxes and should be returned to Sherry Carstens, campus nurse.
• Uninsured students who cannot afford Lakeland’s plan may explore their options in the marketplace exchanges via healthcare.gov. Independents could qualify for free or reduced healthcare.
• In anticipation of the Affordable Care Act, committees under the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) formulated the new requirements and chose Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS) as the insurance provider.
• The Affordable Care Act was established by the Obama administration in an effort to make health insurance more accessible. The President issued an apology after it was revealed millions of Americans could lose their insurance if their policies do not comply with the new law.
• According to Forbes.com, being uninsured under the Affordable Care Act can result in a fine of $95 or 1 percent of household income in excess of $10,000, which would be no more than $200 based on the average undergraduate’s earnings.
• Breaking down the $817.60 charge, Lakeland College’s health insurance will cost students approximately $117 monthly.
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