New student insurance contract announced

Students will get a better deal on health insurance this semester, now that a new Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) contract is in effect.

The contract has been awarded to Student Risk Managers/Guardian Life Insurance Company, which specializes in the university student market.

Affordability is the top priority cited by UW–Madison students for their health insurance plan. Faced with proposed 20-30 percent premium increases for next academic year by the current insurance carrier, University Health Services opted to put the SHIP contract up for new bids last year.

Student Risk Managers/Guardian provides comparable benefits, utilization of the existing UW Health network of providers, clinics and hospitals, and improved and customized support services — all at the lowest premium levels bid by competing carriers.

“We are extremely excited with the prospect of working with a carrier who understands the unique needs of our students and who has developed customized support systems to best meet those needs,” says Kathleen Poi, University Health Services interim executive director. “We believe our students will be quite impressed with the improved array of services offered, while maintaining their access to the current community health care network.”

The university-sponsored SHIP program was initiated in the 1993-94 academic year. Until then, Dane County was spending in excess of $300,000 annually to subsidize health care services for uninsured and underinsured UW–Madison students and their families.

SHIP was implemented as a federally mandated program for International students/ scholars and their dependents. A voluntary enrollment program was also created for domestic students and their dependents.

SHIP addresses health care concerns for UW–Madison students and the surrounding community by offering the most comprehensive and affordable insurance package possible.