ISU and other state universities jump SHIP

Idaho State University is one of four Idaho colleges and universities that will no longer offer students health insurance plans through the Student Health Insurance Program, better known as SHIP.

Starting in 2002, state universities were required to offer health insurance plans through SHIP to help satisfy the requirement for full-time students and international students to have health insurance.

However, with the declining participation in the SHIP program, the costs for the plans have increased. The Idaho State Board of Education changed their policy and told universities and colleges they could choose to no longer offer SHIP plans.

The health insurance requirement for students still stands, though.

At ISU, 1,481 students are currently enrolled in SHIP plans for the 2014-2015 academic year. To help transition them to new plans, staff members are helping guide students to alternatives

“We’re steering them toward either getting on their parents’ because they can stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26,” said Crystal Ross, operations manager at ISU’s student health center. “We’re also steering them to the Idaho health exchange where they’ll be able to get a plan.”

ISU has also been connected SHIP plan holders with local brokers and certified counselors with YourHealthIdaho.

Students currently enrolled with a SHIP plan will lose them at midnight on Aug. 14.