In the midst of a struggling economy, health insurance options seem to be on everyone’s minds. For students who are enrolled in summer classes and for Eastern graduates, health insurance options are crucial over the summer months.

The Summer Student Insurance Fee will be automatically assessed to students who are enrolled in nine or more on-campus hours. Graduate students and international students who are enrolled in a minimum of three on-campus hours will also have the fee automatically assessed. Although the fee is automatically assessed, students who can provide health insurance that either meets or exceeds the student health insurance plan will qualify for a waiver.

“If a student has equal or better coverage, and does not feel they need the additional coverage that we provide, they can fill out a waiver form,” Insurance Manager Lennie Heddins said. “Then they will answer some questions about their insurance and then they will have to provide proof of their health insurance.”

These waiver forms are available in the Student Insurance Office, and are also available for download from the financial aid website. Students must attach a copy of their insurance company’s outline of coverage or a copy of their medical ID card to the waiver form. The form and the accompanying payment needs to be submitted in the insurance office, Heddins said.

The Eastern student health insurance plan also offers a re-enrollment plan that allows students to re-enroll in the health insurance plan following unemployment or injury.

“If something happens to a student’s insurance during the semester all they have to do is bring us a letter called the certificate of coverage that will allow re-instatement into our health insurance plan,” Insurance Specialist Cheryl Hochstetler said.

Graduates who are covered under the Eastern Student Health Insurance Plan for the spring semester are eligible to extend their coverage for $87.45.

“Before everything happened with health care reform, generally students were covered under their parent’s policy, and they were covered as long as they were a full-time student,” Heddins said. “We always made a point of letting the student know that we offer an extension of summer coverage that will cover their first summer following graduation.”

The insurance coverage for the spring semester ends on June 12, but graduates have until Aug. 16 to purchase the extension of coverage.

The Eastern student health insurance plan also covers part-time students who are enrolled in six, seven or eight semester hours.

“When a student who enrolls in part-time hours on campus, but wants the insurance plan, we do provide it for them,” Insurance Specialist Angie Campbell said. “They need to come to our office and fill out the form and pay the fee.”

Also, if a student has previously waived the Student Health Insurance fee, they can reinstate their coverage for $109.95. By doing this, one will become eligible to purchase the extension of coverage at a later date.

Jordan Pottorff can be reached at 581-2812 or jbpottorff@eiu.edu.