Those familiar with multiple parking tickets and residence hall room and board rates are no doubt familiar with our own university reaching into their pockets. Now might be the first time in recent history, though, that a fellow regent institution is threatening the same. The University of Iowa’s recommendation to the Board of Regents that its students be required to have health insurance, if approved, will probably cost ISU students as well.

Will we be forced to pay for the health insurance of Iowa students? Of course not (we hope). But the regents do love parity, and the university does love ways of generating funds. Iowa State looked into a similar plan in 2003, in part because U of I was suggesting it would do the same. That plan was rejected because of lack of student support. If U of I does get permission to implement its program though, it certainly seems possible that Iowa State will reconsider its decision.

The stated reason for requiring health insurance for students is to protect those who have unexpected medical costs and are forced to drop out of school. Although this is certainly a worthy goal, one has to wonder how many students would be discouraged from attending our universities in the first place.

This change would cost ISU students substantially more than it would U of I students. With its own medical school program and hospital, U of I can keep costs to only $840 a year for students. Here at Iowa State, individual health insurance costs $1,092. Healthcare costs are rising at several times the rate of inflation; therefore, that number will surely increase substantially during the next few years. Requiring this would be akin to raising in-state tuition by 22 percent. Uninsured students are likely the ones who can least afford this.

The regents raised both these points in their discussion of the recommendation in early May. They also noted an important fact: Students are healthy. For healthy people, insurance is usually a losing proposition. In fact, one of the main reasons Iowa State wanted to implement this program was to reduce the “loss ratio.” This basically means they wanted to make students pay more and/or get less. By adding a bunch of hale and hardy Iowa Staters to the mix, they would be able to raise funds from people who don’t make many claims.

We agree with the U of I Student Government — the best plan is to educate students on their healthcare options and then let them make up their own mind. We hope the regents concur.