Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio has cancelled its health insurance plan because of the Obama administration's mandate that it include birth control, sterilization, and the morning-after pill in its insurance coverage.
The mandate goes against teachings of the Catholic Church and the conscience of many Catholics.
According to an explanation on the university's website, "Up to this time, Franciscan University has specifically excluded these services and products from its student health insurance policy, and we will not participate in a plan that requires us to violate the consistent teachings of the Catholic Church on the sacredness of human life."
Here's the full explanation offered by the university on its website.
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Campus Health Insurance Policy
The Obama Administration has mandated that all health insurance plans must cover "women's health services" including contraception, sterilization, and abortion-causing medications as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Up to this time, Franciscan University has specifically excluded these services and products from its student health insurance policy, and we will not participate in a plan that requires us to violate the consistent teachings of the Catholic Church on the sacredness of human life.
Additionally, the PPACA increased the mandated maximum coverage amount for student policies to $100,000 for the 2012-13 school year, which would effectively double your premium cost for the policy in fall 2012, with the expectation of further increases in the future.
Due to these changes in regulation by the federal government, beginning with the 2012-13 school year, the University 1) will no longer require that all full-time undergraduate students carry health insurance, 2) will no longer offer a student health insurance plan, and 3) will no longer bill those not covered under a parent/guardian plan or personal plan for student health insurance. The current student health insurance plan will expire on August 15, 2012.
We encourage you to decide how you are going to provide for accidents or illnesses requiring visits to physicians, health clinics, or the hospital emergency room while you are a student here. As always, our Health Center on campus will be staffed by a certified nurse practitioner Monday - Friday during normal business hours. No insurance is necessary to receive basic health-related services at the Health Center, and the visits cost only $5 at the time of service. However, if you are referred off campus for further lab testing, physician specialists, X-rays, etc., you will be responsible to pay for those services.
While Studying Abroad
Those who study for a semester in Austria while students at Franciscan will be covered under a different plan-contact the Study Abroad Director for further information. Students will need to waive this plan to avoid being charged for it automatically.
Athletics
Students who participate in intercollegiate sports will be covered under a different plan during all activities related to that athletic endeavor. This plan does not incur a separate fee of its own; it is covered by the fee charged for participation in intercollegiate sports.