Too many bills, not enough coverage

When Carla Guillory took sick and had to be admitted into the hospital, the last problem she though she’d have to face was the mountain of medical bills she incurred during her stay.
But for the senior criminal justice major from Elton, that’s exactly what happened when the university’s student health insurance plan failed to cover the health risk Guillory faced late last year.
“I took the initiative and went to the student health center to receive a diagnosis of my problem,” Guillory said. “Later, after the test results, I was informed I could possibly have meningitis.”
Guillory said the staff of the student health center immediately contacted Emergency Medical Services with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center to treat her.
Once admitted into the hospital, Guillory said doctors told her she was suffering from a cyst on her ovaries.
“I was told not to worry about anything. The insurance would take care of it,” she said.
The insurance policy carried by the university through GM Southwest, Inc. is underwritten by Nationwide Life Insurance Company.
According to officials in the student health center, the policy states the insurance plan is a supplemental one.
“The student must use the resources of the SHC first where treatment will be administered, or a referral is issued,” said Wanda Warner, the health center’s nurse manager.
Months after being released from the hospital, Guillory said she found herself healthier, but in a $25,000 financial bind.
Guillory said when she contacted the staff members of SHC, she was assured she was eligible for Medicaid, but when she tried applied, she was denied because Medicaid would only pay up the bill three months after being released from the hospital.
Three months had already passed, she said.
When that attempt failed, Guillory said she was directed to OLOL and encouraged to have medical bills reduced because of her situation.
“That case is still pending,” she said. “It was like filing for financial aid because you need your parents financial records.”
Guillory said her dad actually has her in a HMO plan, but it does not cover the costs she incurred during her treatment at OLOL.
“If a student/patient has other insurances, GM Southwest is always secondary,” Officials with GM Southwest said. “Give the primary insurance first. Once the primary insurance pays, GM Southwest needs and explanation of benefits from them.”
Warner said many students come to her to complain about the insurance not being enough, although for the $15 fee, $15,000 of coverage is a lot, she said.
Warner said the insurance fee will probably be going up in the next four to five years. A decision she said is made by the university’s Board of Supervisors.
Warner said other institutions pay between $70 and $80 a semester for health insurance.
Guillory, who is also a Student Government Association senator, has been instrumental with getting the health referendum added to the spring 2007 voting ballot so students can decide whether or not an increase in the insurance fee is needed.
“I want this so that other students will not be susceptible to these outlandish bills,” she said. “Our insurance is crabby. It didn’t even cover 50 percent of my bills. The plan paid $6,000 and the rest of the balance is left up to me.”