Representatives from Thielen Student Health Center explained changes in graduate student health insurance on Monday night to senators from the Graduate Student Senate.

Wanda Kellogg and Jill Pretzer of the Student Health Center provided information and answered questions about graduate health insurance. Graduate student health insurance changed from GM Southwest to The Chickering Group on August 12. This health insurance is the only option for graduate students, but is not free. Family members may be included under the plan at additional cost.

“We’ll be working with a much more customer service-oriented company this year,” Kellogg said.

The new health plan entails:

Students referred by Student Health doctors to outside doctors must pay a $200 deductible before insurance will pay at 80 percent.

Hospital visits have a $400 deductible.

Individual out-of-pocket maximums changed from $1,000 to $1,500.

Emergency room deductible changed from $400 to $200, with a $100 Co-pay. No referral is needed for an ER visit.

The “Vision One” program is now used for eye care, with coverage for routine eye services, purchase of glasses or contact lenses and a discounted rate for Lasik eye surgery.

The only provider in Ames is Pearl Vision at North Grand Mall. More information can be found at Student Health.

Pharmacy benefits are the same: $2 for generic, $10 for brand-name prescription drugs.

Co-pays are 20 percent for in-network providers, and 40 percent for non-emergency out-of-network providers.

Dental coverage now pays 100 percent two times a year for routine cleaning and exam. The maximum yearly benefit is $500.

Vice President Michelle Bohan, graduate student in biochemistry, asked that anyone with physical therapy bills on their university bill that GM Southwest should have paid contact her.

The senate also passed a bill changing the two senator seats from animal ecology and forestry department into two seats from the new Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management.

The senate also voted to adopt standing rules that will govern the group until the September 2003 meeting.

Senator Heather Cole, graduate student in human development and family studies, resigned to spend more time with her family. She will continue to act as secretary until elections are held in September.

For more Chickering health plan information, see www.chickering.com/iowa/brochure.pdf.

Here is a brief look at the 2002-2003 GSS Executive Board and their goals:

President: Dee Egdorf, human development and family studies.

“We want to be more visible on campus – we’re the liaison between administration and graduate students. We’re working on a full tuition waiver for graduate students.”

Vice President: Michelle Bohan, biochemistry.

“We’re working on health insurance, and helping resolve problems with last year.”

Secretary: Vacant.

Treasurer: Kevin Triggs, transportation logistics and community and regional planning.

“One of the things that I’d like to see is that grad students can continue to be respected as viable members of the Iowa State family and that avenues are sought to allow graduate students to earn their degree without putting too much of a financial burden on themselves.”

Parliamentarian: Fred Iutzi, sustainable agriculture.

“I’d like to see an increase in senator involvement in the senate, and senators become confident in their ability to write legislation.”

University Relations: Allison Heckley, biochemistry.