News Release
		Office of the Chancellor P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR 97207 FAX (503) 725-5709 PHONE (503) 725-5700 http://www.ous.edu

	July 20, 1999             Contact:     Bob Bruce, 503-725-5714 Source:    Joe Cox, 541-346-5700 OUS Task Force to Study Student Health Insurance EUGENE -- The Oregon University System is forming a special task force to study how it can continue to provide affordable health insurance coverage for Oregon university students. Chancellor Joe Cox said the task force will examine existing costs and programs, and will look for better ways to maintain affordable health insurance for students who are unable to continue coverage under a parent or employer's plan. "The cost of student health insurance has risen just as the cost of employee health plans have risen," Cox said. "Premium increases for student plans have ranged from 31 to 90 percent for this year alone." "Thus, I have asked my staff to coordinate a special task force of campus representatives to investigate the entire issue of health insurance for both undergraduate and graduate students. They will review what is being done currently in the Oregon University System and then explore what other states are doing, whether there are opportunities for regional or national collaboration, and whether health care providers currently offer or are willing to create programs to better serve the needs of our student population." The task force will report its findings to the Oregon State Board of Higher Education in January. Health services fees at Oregon's seven public universities currently range from $62 to $92 per term. Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology and Western Oregon University are implementing common coverage for all students this fall. Students who can verify outside health coverage can obtain a $17 per term waiver of the common fee at the three schools.
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