Column: No insurance, no problem at Student Health Center
Published April 27, 2010
Sure, America isn't the healthiest nation — big deal.
And yes, I did witness a man order two triple whoppers — a week's worth of calories. Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I am assuming he only eats once a week. Regardless, even though we aren't the healthiest people on the planet, we do have exceptional health care. Insurance debates will continue to rage, despite the passed bill, for a long time; however, I believe the argument that the quality will be affected by insuring the uninsured is extremely flawed.
I am infinitely grateful, particularly, for the men and women who work at the Student Health Center here at MU. The University of Missouri's health care system really does live up to its vision statement: "Through discovery and innovation, University of Missouri Health Care will be the health system that people choose for exceptional service and exemplary health care."
In a time when health care and complaints seem to go hand in hand, the system in place here has been incomparable.
In the past two years, I have broken a vertebrate in my neck, my jaw and several digits. I've strained and sprained ligaments and on top of this I, like any self respecting student of a residence hall, contracted mono over my college career. The health center always delivered in an efficient, professional manner. This is not true of every college town and especially not true of rural areas. Not only do the MU hospitals take care of MU students, faculty and Columbia residents, they also are the main source of health care for the greater part of the state. People as far north as Marceline and south to near Rolla all depend on the hospital.
Many insurance companies discontinue coverage for students covered by their parents' plans once the they reach the age of 22. I fall into that category. But thanks to the people at the health center, the lack of insurance does not mean a check-up must be paid for. The procedures are listed on a sheet, and all the costs are laid out in an easy-to-read manner. The only drawback is when something is wrong with your health, it's usually very wrong.
I found myself this past week in the midst of trying to balance pain and my bank account, a balance that hurts in two places. When the doctor recommended x-rays, I explained my financial situation. He wrote scripts for pain prescriptions that would only cost me $4 to fill. In addition, the doctor told me where I could get a huge discount on x-rays if I paid out-of-pocket. The x-ray and the reading cost me more than I wanted to spend but was the right price in order to find out what was wrong.
If I had insurance, I could have had my results in a more timely and cheaper manner, but the reading would have come out the same. If I had insurance, the doctor would have been just as professional and concerned for my well-being. If I had insurance, the receptionist would have made me fill out the same number of forms. The idea that insurance will some how affect the responsible and professional nature of hospital employees, at least in Missouri, is not a sound argument.
Nobody wants to get x-rays or spend any more time in the hospital than is necessary, but I can't praise enough the quality and commitment the Student Health Center provides.