Health

HE A LTH • Fall 2021 11 2013- 2014 23,296 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 2014- 2015 2014- 2015 2015- 2016 2016- 2017 2017- 2018 2018- 2019 2019- 2020 7,598 on this system. During the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, QCC has 4,163 students enrolled, of which only 153 students are participating in the school's SHIP pro- gram. While the program is not in high demand, Auger said it is an essential service for students who would not oth- erwise have access to healthcare. Misinformation and confusion are key hurdles the program has faced, especially since the changes were announced during the pandemic and and schools who had to navigate two different, yet equally confusing plans. Student use of SHIP declines During the 2019-2020 school year, 32,912 students partook in SHIP, according to data released by MassHealth. However, the number of students utilizing SHIP has decreased since the Affordable HealthCare Act of 2010 and was further diminished by the coronavirus pandemic, where stu- dents forgoing in-person coursework could waive their SHIP plan coverage. These factors resulted in the number of students in SHIP from 2020-2021 dropping to 7,598. SHIP PA Elimination In February 2020, MassHealth announced it would eliminate the SHIP PA Program, citing skyrocketing premium increases by BCBS. According to figures provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services, BCBS estimated an average premium increase of 47% for all students attending public colleges/universities if MassHealth members remained in the SHIP PA Program. This would have also resulted in an approximate 50% premium increase for non- MassHealth students who had their insurance through SHIP. As a result, while SHIP as a whole remains intact, SHIP PA is in the process of being phased out by the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. "This decision prevented all students receiving health care coverage through the Student Health Insurance Program from experiencing exorbitant premium increases and allowed for continuous coverage for students who receive MassHealth for the upcoming school year," EOHHS said in a written statement. BCBS is still the sole provider of health insurance for all the SHIP programs available at public colleges and universities; however, it no longer heads the PA program as it is phased out. In a written statement, BCBS said it will continue to be involved with SHIP as a whole. "At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, we're proud to offer student health coverage that provides a vast array of benefits and a broad provider network to students enrolled in Massachusetts colleges and universities," BCBS said in the written statement. SHIP PA in the classroom After years of working with SHIP, Auger is glad to see the PA portion of the program eliminated. She described Start Your Team Sponsor Donate umasscancerwalk.org New Date and Location! Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 Polar Park Worcester, Mass. IN-PERSON EVENT! scenarios in which MassHealth-eligible students would enroll for QCC's SHIP program only to find out that they had automatically been enrolled in the BCBS coverage as well. Due to the state's mandate, the BCBS would become the students' primary insur- ance, meaning that students would not be able to see their previous MassHealth doctors if they were out- side the BCBS network. The responsibility to help students navigate their health insurance often fell on the administration, who tried to help the students, but who were also confused by what the different insur- ances covered and what they didn't. "We were not able to fully assist the students with their often-complex issues," Auger said. The program was equally frustrat- ing for both college staff and students, she said. Auger said by automatically transferring students' coverages, the PA program undermined the ability of students to make decisions as consumers. The feedback QCC received from students on the PA program was stu- dents did not understand why they were transferred off of MassHealth while their doctors could not figure out which insurance to bill. Thanks to the elimination of the program, students on MassHealth can keep their current doctors and not have to go through the long reim- bursement process for copays. As with the state figures, QCC has seen a rapid drop in students needing SHIP assistance. However, Auger sees this decline as good news indicative of students getting their health insurance needs met elsewhere and not relying Students enrolled in SHIP program When COVID-19 hit Central Mass., the number of students enrolled in the state's insurance program plummeted. Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services students may not be aware of them as they enter the fall semester. This difficulty is only added between the similar names, but different policies, of SHIP and SHIP PA. Auger said getting more information about student health insurance out in the open will help students better understand their current coverage options. "There is a lot of information out there, and it is still hard to find answers. Anyway we can educate students about this is great," she said. Before its elimination, the SHIP PA program caused confusion for students and medical staff. H

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