From: l1z@ecl.psu.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china,soc.culture.taiwan,soc.culture.hongkong
Subject: Ridiculous Health Insurance Policy [Part 2]
Date: 23 Jul 92 00:22:29 EDT
Organization: Engineering Computer Lab, Pennsylvania State University

Someone helped us to forward our original post "Ridiculous Health Insurance 
Policy"  to the International Advisor list on Bitnet and the Director of 
International Student affair in Penn State Jim Lynch had picked up my 
posting and here is his response.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  BEGIN >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: JFL1%PSUADMIN.BITNET@VTVM2.CC.VT.EDU
Subject:      Insurance (Sigh)
To: Multiple recipients of list INTER-L <INTER-L@VTVM2.CC.VT.EDU>
Status: RO

Jim Lynch,
Director
Office of International Students
Penn State

Wow, do I hate to even comment on that earlier message!

For those of you familiar with the joys of mandatory health insurance,
the message sent over Inter-L earlier today, regarding the summer fun we're
engaged in here at Penn State, contains very familiar information, issues
and sentiments.  However, there was one blatantly false assertion made in
that message to which I feel I must respond.

Every international student admitted to Penn State for the fall of 1990
and afterward was notified of the health insurance requirement and of the
cost of the policy offered as an option by Penn State's carrier.  Every one
of these students provided proof that they had the funds to purchase the
policy for themselves and for their dependents.   This has been documented
and "lack of notification" has ceased even to be a topic of discussion on
this campus because the argument has been debunked.  I guess maybe someone
thought that it was safe to revive it because they didn't know we read
Inter-L.

(By the way, the exception that proves the rule is to be found in the fact
that we have waived the requirement for a couple of students who were ad-
mitted "out of channels" and were able to present a reasonable case for
their lack of knowledge of the requirement.)

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<End of Jimmy Lynch's original comment>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

  Thanks John Ho from Dallas, Texas USA. (john@jho.com) for helping us to           
forward our original post to Inter-L network.

  We feel we have something we must say about Jimmy Lynch's words.
  Jimmy argued on only one point of our original post: whether we have been
properly notified of PennState's insurance program and requirement for any
alternative insurance before we came here or not. Jimmy DID tell one truth:
"lack of notification" has ceased even to be a topic of discussion at the
campus of PennState. That's because he SIMPLY REFUSED to talk with us on
this matter.
  When we first got admitted to this school, we did received a brochure
which guided things every international student should do to finalize the
admission. The essential thing is the financial support. It listed the
estimated expenses a student could spend per year at PennState. Like food,
books, tuition, etc. And there really is a number telling us the estimated
insurance is $8,600 (It is certainly a printing mistake so no one pays
attention to the number). It then gives a calculation result that each
international student will need an additional $2200 in addtion to their
TA or RA stipend. and accompanying spouse will be required to provide 
evidence of an extra  "$4500 (Including insurance)". There's no estimated
number for the expense of insurance for spouse at all. And we simply 
provide our bank statement of $2200 or $6700 saving to get our I-20. There
isn't a simgle word in that brochure telling us the insurance is manditary
or telling us about the university's insurance program.
  It is not untill we arrive at PennState and at the orientation that we
be given an information package enclosed in an envelope regarding the 
expenses of the university's MEGA insurance plan for both the student and
the spouse. And even at that time we are not clearly told that certain kind
of insurance for spouses is manditary. One evidence is that we have all
successively registered for two semesters without any problem accuring
untill not long ago we received a letter from the registrar's office that
tells us that our registration for the next semester (fall,1992) be hold
unless we pay the insurance. So, yes, "lack of notification" doesn't
exist at all now because we are all very clear of what PennState's insurance
means. But isn't it "late of notification"?
  The brochure we received only gives us some estimated number. And we had
only provided the informations of how much money we have (the financial
ability). We think that doesn't say anything because we have never signed
or been asked to sign anything that says we must buy insurance as condition
of admission and registration. The brochure may estimate $5000 per year for
food as minimum estimation. The university may also provide a cafeterial
meals program which costs $5000 a year just as it provide a health insurance
program which costs $3000 a year for a couple. But why PennState is not 
stupid enough to require every international student to either eat at its 
own cafeterial or meet the minimum food standard: eat %5000 per year? As a
matter of fact, some international student families spend only $1500 a year
on food. But does it matter as long as they like? Someone may choose not
having lunch, but then what? Why should we buy an insurance of high cost
and of coverages that we do not need?
  The fact is that PennState's insurance is excessively high.
  The inside fact is that this insurance provided excessive coverage.
  Jimmy Lynch has a very famous word: "Which seems to be excessive to some
one is just supposed to be set up for adequate and non-discrimination".
  So, since ox contains 20% of bones, no body should buy boneless beef. And
every body has to buy the 20% of bones, "which seems to be excessive and
unwanted to somebody", but "is just supposed to be set up for adequate and
non-discrimination" (because ox has 20% of bones).
  We request that PennState changes it's unfair health insurance policy. 
We are not trying to defame Penn. State University. Down to the earth, we
are students of PennState ourself. But the unfair health insurance has
already defamed PennState. We hope the school authority can at least begin
to take some measures to correct wrong doings. 

				    A group of international students
				    at Pennsylvania State University