Amidst heated national debate on a public health insurance option, the undergraduate student government of Michigan State University (ASMSU) is looking into creating their own health care plan for students and alumni. Their proposal would offer a low-cost health care plan for students and alumni that would provide more coverage than the university's existing plan. Specifics of the plan have not yet been worked out.

Student Assembly Chairperson Kyle Dysarz said 20 percent of MSU students are without health insurance and the group would likely negotiate a plan with an insurance company and facilitate meetings between interested students and the provider. ASMSU is working with an agency to identify potential insurers.

"We should be doing anything we can to help students with financial demands [and] making sure we’re promoting health and safety initiatives,” Dysarz said.

Portia McKenzie, spokesperson for the undergraduate student government, said the group would also like to offer coverage for students past graduation.

The group’s push for more coverage has also led to talks within the university on making coverage mandatory for all students, like a recent move by the University of North Carolina system.

According to the Colorado Public Interest Research Group (COPIRG), young adults like college students are “the fastest growing uninsured population in the U.S.”


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