By Anelise Rodriguez
On Aug. 7, an email was sent out to students, announcing that Purchase College will no longer be offering a “Student Health Insurance Plan” for domestic students.
The Health Services building located in the Central 3 parking lot. (Photo by Anelise Rodriguez)
“I have been extremely impacted by the change in policy,” said Maxie Soja, a senior music composition major.
During their freshman year, Soja, a foster kid from Connecticut, attempted to waive their health insurance, as they were already covered under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Children Protection Services CPS) system. However, they realized soon after, that the system only covers them through Husky, CT Medicaid.
“Learning most colleges and universities offer insurance through them if your insurance is not covered in the state or country was amazing for me. I was very grateful for Purchase's collaboration with Aetna for the first three years I was here,” Soja said.
The platinum level plan offered by Aetna offered comprehensive insurance benefits, including accessibility to specialists, mental health, preventative care, laboratory services, Urgent Care, and emergency and prescription medications, all of which would be billed to the student's account.
Melissa Glazer, assistant dean for student affairs and the original sender of the email, shares that the decision about Student Health Insurance, made and communicated back in April 2024 was not made lightly. The decision “included thoughtful feedback from Health Services, Counseling & Behavioral Health Services, and the Purchase College Association board.”
Lawrence Soja shares that she felt there could have been a better way to address the policy change. She was unaware it applied to her until a second email was sent over the summer. Furthermore, she shared that she was never informed of why this happened.
“I would've been very appreciative if Purchase would have reached out directly instead of just sending that one all-encompassing email,” Lawrence Soja said.
According to Glazer, the decision was made on two factors, one being fewer students purchasing the college’s health insurance for the 2024-2025 academic year. “The semester fees for the college’s insurance would have increased significantly,” Glazer wrote in a written statement to The Phoenix.
Glazer also shared that upon making this decision, the college reached out to other SUNY’s, finding that Purchase is “one of the few SUNY schools that offered a plan.”
It was found that other SUNY schools refer their students to the New York Marketplace, a resource for students to “purchase insurance coverage independently” while also helping them save money.
“We did have some students reach out to ask for advice,” Glazer wrote. “In response, Student Affairs and Health Services worked with students and provided instructions on how to navigate the Marketplace.”
The students affected, however, were overwhelmed by this new policy change, sharing that the process was very confusing.
“I have had a few students report to me that they were having difficulties in obtaining insurance coverage,” said Adrienne Belluscio, administrative director of health services. “Some out-of-state students have had trouble obtaining insurance coverage, as their coverage at home only allowed emergency coverage while in New York,” she continued.
This becomes troublesome to students with state medicinal programs; benefits that are only offered within their region.
“I’m from out of state and the college didn’t accept our health insurance, so I was on the school health insurance for two years before the change. I’m not familiar with navigating the New York system, so it was quite confusing,” wrote a senior theater and performance major in a statement. “I ended up figuring it out, but it was just a lot of information thrown at you.”
“I am able to offer assistance for students needing prescriptions by collaborating with our off-campus pharmacy to ensure that the appropriate discounts are applied,” said Belluscio.
Despite the transition, and regardless of student’s insurance plans, Student Health Services will continue offering free access to Health Services and Counseling & Behavioral Health. This also includes obtaining prescription medication from an in-house formulary, immunizations, rapid tests, lab tests, and more.
“The decision to discontinue the school health insurance plan did not change the range of services offered by Health Services,” Belluscio said. “If anything other than emergency events arise with students, Health Services will work individually with them to assist in getting their medical needs met.”
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