© the other press ¢ Mews inions Editor to start _ coereuic, lling to pay you a pittas hard w i employing many famous Thu Tue Wed Wed Mon Wed Mon Financial Aid Fall 2003 Information Sessions To be held at the New Westminster campus 700 Royal Avenue August 21 5:30-7:30 pm August 26 6-8 pm September 17 5-8 pm October 1 5:30-7:30 pm October 29 3-5 pm November 19 5-8 pm December 1 3-5 pm Free to all information session participants: A copy of Murray Bakerés book Room 1606 Room 1606 Room 2804 Room 1606 Room 2201 Room 2804 Room 1606 The Debt Free Graduate HOW TO SURVIVE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY WITHOUT GOING BROKE We offer information and options to help college students balance their budgets. Budgeting is spending in a way that gets the things you really need and want without ruining your finances You can learn about Financial Aid options ranging from loans to bursaries and scholarships, and all stops in between. Page 8 e http://www.otherpress.ca flugust 2003 Mandatory Health and Dental Plan Receives Mixed Support Sara James News Editor Effective Fall 2003 term, the Douglas Students’ Union’s Health and Dental Plan (HDP) is mandato- ry for all full-time students registered in nine or more credits. The DSU presented the plan to students, and a vote was held March 24-28 of this year. The HDP provides students with extended heath and dental cov- erage, but does not include BC med- ical. The yearly fee is $260, paid in full at the same time as regular stu- dent registration fees. After numerous inquiries about the possibility of a health and dental plan, like those offered at other post- secondary institutions such as UBC, the DSU presented the option to students and a vote was held. A total of 662 students voted, and of those, over 400 were in favour of the HDP. The required quorum, a by-law of the DSU, that at least five percent of students cast a vote, was met. Plan coverage includes dental, paramedical services, travel and life insurance, dismemberment insur- ance, and prescriptions. Dental cov- ers 80 percent of basic and restora- tive services up to a maximum of $500 per year. Paramedical services (chiropractors, psychologists, natur- opaths, massage therapists, etc) are covered up to $300 per year per serv- ice. Accidental death insurance is $7,000 and travel insurance is $1,000,000. For services covered by the plan, students can use a pay-direct card, which they can obtain at either the DSU office or by downloading the card from the DSU _ website . Yearly coverage is effective September 1 to August 31. Part-time students can opt-in to the HDP by contacting the DSU directly. Some full-time students, however, have been taken by surprise at the mandatory inclusion of the HDP fee in their registration fees. Students must first pay the fee, and if they already have coverage through another provider, must apply to the DSU for a refund. Those opting out of the plan should receive their refund by mid-October. To avoid the additional fee, some students have dropped, or are con- sidering dropping, courses to reduce their status to part-time. Students, already covered by another plan, have expressed concern that they will have to pay two months of credit card, loan, or overdraft interest before receiving a refund. In response to these concerns, Joey Hansen, Finance and _ Services Coordinator for the DSU, stated that there is a system in place to ensure students do not face undue hardship. Those students are asked to contact the DSU directly regard- ing their situation. One full-time student, Robert Mangelsdorf, has expressed his anger regarding the new plan through a let- ter posted throughout the New West campus. In his letter, he states that the “medical plan was not submitted in accordance with the [DSU] by- laws.” He questions, “Why were there not submitted three quotes from three different providers as is clearly stated in the DSU by-laws?” Hansen responded that the deci- sion was made because of structural and practical reasons; “The National Student Health Network provides the plan carrier, Green Shield Canada. The Network is a service of the Canadian Federation of Students, and Douglas students are members of CFS and therefore part owner of the Network.” In addition, Hansen said that other providers required a multi-year commitment, and this one provides the DSU with the ability to shop around every year for the best and most reasonable cov- erage. Not all students are unhappy with the plan. As one student said, “I am glad to know that the coverage is provided should he ever require it.” Another student noted, “The cost is not only affordable, but extremely reasonable when compared to other plans.” Students must contact the DSU directly, with any concerns or ques- tions, and not the Registrar.