There are some facts that many students at Southern do not know about the university. Facts like Southern being one of the only HBCUs to have a live mascot until Lacumba II died in December 2004 or the SU System is the only HBCU system.
Another key fact— health insurance is included in student fees and tuition ever semester and many do not use the insurance.
Terricka Fields, office manager and Coordinator at Baranco-Hill Student Health Center said that the insurance is available to all students that are actively enrolled in the university for the semester.
The insurance can only be used at the Student Health Center, meaning that all visits made at the clinic are paid for by the insurance.
You can make an appointment to be seen at the center. If needed to be seen by another physician, we will refer you to another physician,” Fields said. “Students are not to visit other doctors and expect to claim the students’ health insurance without getting a bill. It does not operate like that.”
The insurance, like many health insurances, has varies policies, limitations and stipulations that the individual must follow. One stipulation is that the insurance will only cover students at the clinic unless it is an emergency or after hours. If this is the case, students may present their insurance ID card and will have to pay a $50 outpatient deductible.
The university recently switched over to a new insurance provider, Bollinger Insurance Company. The insurance became effective in mid-August.
The insurance ID cards are available at the Health Center.
“I am not too familiar with the insurance,” said LaShonda Freeman, a senior mass communications major from Baton Rouge. “I have never used it before.”
As opposed to LaShondra, Jimmy Mitchell, a senior therapeutic recreation and leisure studies major from Plaquemine, said that he was well aware of the insurance and has used the insurance plenty of times at the Baranco-Hill Health Center.
“I have done everything to help the students be aware of the insurance that they are entitled to. It is time that the students utilize their services that we have available for them. The services are here to be used, not wasted,” Fields said.
Fields also stated that once you have basic symptoms, you should go to the Student Health Center to be treated before things can get worse.
“Minor things such as coughs, headaches, stomachaches do not require you to be seen by the doctor,” she said. “The majority of the time, students in those situations can walk in and get medication from our on-duty pharmacist.
We offer a variety of services here at the Student Health Center. Students have the opportunity to receive some vaccinations and STD testing as well as birth control. However, these services are chargeable,” Fields said.
For more information, on the insurance and its policies, visit the web site at www.bollingercollege.com/sus or visit the Student Health Center where a variety of brochures elaborating on the policies are available. You can also call Terricka Fields at the Health Center at 225.771.4770 or email her [email protected].
The Baranco-Hill Student Health Center is in operation Monday-Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Women’s Clinic is available Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
