University President says health fee is “for the common good”
Cornell University students are obviously smart enough to know they shouldn’t have to pay a penalty for not buying the school’s health insurance if they already have coverage, but that’s exactly what a new policy at the Ivy League school requires.
The $350 “health fee” for opting out of the school’s insurance plan was announced in a memo from school President David Skorton, who is also a medical doctor. It was posted Feb. 5, on Cornell’s website, according to higher education blog The College Fix. But the implications are just beginning to sink in with the student body, and many attending the Ithaca, N.Y., school are now staging protests. Under Obama’s Affordable Care Act, students must have insurance, but making those already covered pay an extra fee to skip the school’s plan is rightly getting them riled.
According to Skorton, the fee will affect approximately 70% of undergrads, 10% of graduate students, and 30% of professional students. Given the number of students in each of these categories, it is expected to raise about $3.9 million. Additionally, students will have a $10 co-pay for visits to the campus’ health center.
In his statement Skorton noted that Cornell’s health services funding has been “strained” in light of “rising health insurance costs.” His email cites “inequitable access to care” as the reason for introducing this student health fee.
Students who do not opt in to the $2,352 plan will get hit with the $350 fee, which “most likely” won’t be covered by financial aid, according to The Cornell Review. The newspaper said the university plan is run through Aetna, whose CEO is a Cornell MBA grad.
This gut-punch is Skorton’s parting gift to Cornell’s students. The Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents named him to lead the world’s largest museum and research complex. He will assume his new post July 2015.
“David Skorton has demonstrated keen vision and skilled leadership as the president of two great American universities,” Supreme Court Chief Justice and Smithsonian Chancellor John Roberts lauded in a statement. “His character, experience and talents are an ideal match for the Smithsonian’s broad and dynamic range of interests, endeavors and aspirations.”
Justice Roberts, it will long be remembered, was the deciding vote on Obamacare. The Republican appointee stunned the nation as he sided with the liberals on the court.
It would be interesting to know what percentage of these now protesting Ivy Leaguers voted for Barack Obama —- and if those who did would do so again.
Seeing Red AZ 
Skorton is yet another leftist leading American universities. If you’ve interviewed grads as I routinely do, it’s easy to see schools are hotbeds of liberalism, imparting little knowledge. If you’re up to it, try engaging any recent college grad in a conversation about the current world situation. I guarantee you’ll be shocked.
Cornell’s President Skorton is a staunch amnesty proponent who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security on behalf of the Association of American Universities in support of the DREAM Act and allowing more “skilled immigrants” to compete with American citizens for fewer jobs. He obviously holds the students who graduate Cornell and seek employment in lower regard than those “skilled immigrants.”.
He is also anti-Second Amendment. He joined eight other university presidents in signing a statement in January 2013. The statement called for the United States to “confront its culture of violence, particularly violence perpetrated by guns.”
Look no further than the massively overpaid Michael Crow at USA who supports in-state tuition and scholarships for illegals. In addition to his $900,000 salary and substantial benefits, he has been awarded $260,000 in bonuses to kick in over a three year period. His Dec. 2014 $95,000 raise was sold as “his first increase in base pay since 2007.” Makes my heart bleed.
Now if we can get the multi national corporations to reject socialism like defense and oil companies we will be all set. And lets not forget apple getting socialism out in mesa!
John Roberts and David Skorton…..What a cozy twosome of sellouts.
Havent the Dem’s tout of the fact that parents can keep kids on their insurance up to 27 y/o been heard here? If kids are on parents policy why would they need to buy this?
I always thought that was a terrible idea and encouraged kids not to get out and get a job.