For now, it remains unclear whether, and in what manner, Schultz will release the files. We won't be able to see where we're at until we see which files are turned over to us. While Mills students have been away for winter break, U.C. Berkeley's Student Health Insurance Plan, which serves over half of the Mills student body, has undergone some improvements. In contrast to a continued nationwide increase in the cost of health care and health insurance, U.C. Berkeley has announced that, while maintaining its low premium costs, it has increased benefits to all students enrolled in the student health plan as of January 1, 1997. New benefits have also been added to the plan, including home health care and skilled nursing care, though these benefits are rarely, if ever, required by students, said Mills Health Program Director Ying Mei Tcheou.
Savings go right back into the program.
In 1990, undergraduates at the university organized and voted-in a referendum requiring major medical insurance for all university students. Mills followed suit right away, joining with Berkeley's program. According to Covello, the plan has undergone transitions over the past two to three years, becoming less reliant on Blue Cross for its services. It has now reached the status of a self-funded program, enabling it to tailor the plan to the needs of East Bay students and negotiate lower rates with Blue Cross, passing the savings on to students. Having the status of a self-funded program, the plan is also able to avoid being subject to the new premium taxes which Blue Cross has recently imposed.