Franciscan University in Steubenville drops student coverage.

The following comes from a May 14 blog posting by Tom Crowe on CatholicVote.org.

….Part of reason I like my current health insurance plan offered by my employer, Franciscan University of Steubenville, is that it does not waste money on things I will never use because they are morally repugnant to me, like contraceptives, sterilization, and abortifacients.

The HHS mandate purports to force me into a plan that I do not want rather than the plan I’ve been very happy with. But that’s a still-pending issue because of the one-year extension given (not that we will comply even after a year, of course). 

But a more-present impact of the mandate directly affects students. The following is now posted on Franciscan’s “Student Health Insurance Plan” page:

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.

In short: We. Will. Not. Comply. And our students are the first one who will feel the pinch.

To read complete blog posting, Click here.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 4:15 AM By donald byrnes
And God will continue to bless the University and those families who send their children to schools like this. The persecution is underway and may we be able to forgive those who hurt us. Dear Blessed Mother, please watch over us!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 4:55 AM By Thomas Edward Miles
FRANCISCAN U. has been waiting for this day, Obamacare is an excuse to save money, give me a break!! The folks could not even wait until the problems were worked out completely. All they needed was a voucher subsidy, it is immoral to not provide health care for these students, this phony nonsense should be seen for what it is, a money saver!! This would never happen in a JESUIT U!!!!!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:25 AM By JMJ
Of course, the University will be facing heavy fines, which will also bring the costs of the tuition even higher, until they will be forced to shut down, which is the main goal of Obama and his OBANAMISM. +JMJ+

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:35 AM By Bill M.
Try Kaiser Permanente Health Plan.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 6:07 AM By Prof.Helen
Walking the walk.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 6:10 AM By Carolyn
Finally, a university with guts and compassion also. Good for you Steubenville. Let donors set up a fund for the students, to be used in emergency situations. If the Amish can do it the Catholics can do it! Where there is a will, there is a way….Jesus I trust in You.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 6:32 AM By Margo 
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have written at least three Catholic Universities in the past week to express my anger at their lack of Catholic understanding and faith. I also told them that they would in no way be receiving my 4 catholic educated children into their systems. Steubenville is currently top on our list of Catholic colleges that we would like to see our children attend – and this article proves why it will remain #1. God Bless you!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:12 AM By stella
In our country today directly due to Obamacare, we are seeing right being wrong, good being bad, principles being folish, and our country being unrecognizable to it’s history. We owe it all to class warfare. It’s a get yours before someone else does. What a shame.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:12 AM By Ted
President Obama got over 50% (54%, as I recall) of the Catholic vote in 2008. I ask those Catholics who voted for him, doesn’t this article make you proud ? Just think of the contribution you made – hope, change, and all that ?

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:45 AM By MD
God Bless Steubenville. Having attended my undergrad years at FUS, I know this is an institution that not only proclaims the truth in the Gospel, but it a living example of living a Christocentric life. I pray the supreme court finds obamacare unconstitutional so the institutions such as FUS, Catholic University and many other things like the Knights of Columbus, EWTN, etc. will have the freedom to live the life proclaimed by the Lord. Lets pray and support our bishops. God Love You.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:54 AM By Bud 
O’Bama himself has granted exemptions to certain groups from the tyranny of the “forced plan”, reportedly many well paying political groups like the Unions etc. Does anyone know just who is exempted and why? This in itself should be considered a reason for non compliance especially since the DOJ has such a seedy reputation like O’bama’s.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:10 AM By JimAroo
Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:35 AM By Bill M. Try Kaiser Permanente Health Plan. Kaiser is an abortion provider and pressures women to have abortions if there is any chance of a disability in her baby… and when I say pressure I mean PRESSURE.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:14 AM By Kathy
God bless Franciscan U for taking a stand!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:17 AM By MD
Thomas Edward Miles-I apologize, but you are mistaken. First, A Jesuit U as you are referring to would offer contraception or abortive medications with no moral qualms. Second, this will be tremendously more expensive for Franciscan. Do you not realize that Steubenville is stopping health care and will be fined by the Federal Government at an exorbitant rate for holding firm to Catholic doctrine and beliefs? I am extremely fearful of the results of the HHS mandate as the result can be the economic downfall for many good institutions and organizations. The difference between FUS and the Jesuit schools you believe will keep healthcare is the fact that FUS is willing to suffer martyrdom for the sake of the Kingdom and is taking great risk at being bold in this manner. God Love You.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:40 AM By grampsc
The sheep who voted for the ego maniac president Obama will likely vote for him again, their hand is stuck on the lever D

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:49 AM By Ann Ehrhart
HOORAY FOR THIS UNIVERSITY FOR THIS STAND ON HEALTH CARE. WE CATHOLICS NEED TO SCREAM ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW IS WRONG AND AGAINST OUR CATHOLIC TEACHING.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:20 AM By Nancy
Franciscan is loyal Catholic University. This is no surprise to me. God Bless Them!!!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:27 AM By Maryanne Leonard
Yes, we are all in agreement, except, of course, the usual suspects, that Franciscan University took the moral, legal and yes, even financial high ground in this matter. Most young, college-aged kids are healthy and insured under their parents’ plans anyway until they are old enough to start worrying about cellulite and other grown-up problems. But I do worry about the occasional family that could be wiped out by their child’s horrendous medical event. Is there nothing that can be done to protect these Catholic families as well as the families who send their kids to Immoral U.?

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:38 AM By kaves1
Don’t pay the government penalties.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:43 AM By Jim O.
FUS needs to read Chosen Child of Chicago where Jesus says ” the mandate will be overturned by the court as unconstituional ” and the man you are praying for will be your next president ” ” his dropping out will make it ever more of a miracle “.(afterthewarning)

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:08 AM By Tracy
Bill M., how would joining Kaiser Health plan solve ones moral dilemmas? They pay for and encourage abortions, especially where there might be future health care expenditures due to a disabled baby being born. if a disabled baby is born, they will encourage palliative care as the best care. They offer all sorts of contraceptives as well as sterilization’s. Oh yes, and this one might be of interest to you: if you have had a stroke or other disabling condition they will offer you the morphine drip followed by the withholding of food and water. The truth is that utilitarianism has infected the health care system.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:13 AM By Margo Morgan
Thomas Edward Miles, Jesuit Universities aren’t Catholic. They sold out a long time ago.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:03 AM By Maryanne Leonard
Tracy, Kaiser offers stroke patients and those with other disabling conditions a morphine drip followed by the withholding of food and water? Are you absolutely certain of what you are saying? Is this at the option of the patient, or the patient’s family? Are you saying Soylent Green is here, and you can get it at your neighborhood Kaiser Hospital? I didn’t get the memo. Astounding. Please confirm.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:27 AM By StandupforCatholics
Finally a Catholic institution that has the leadership to stand up for what’s right! Too bad more Catholic/Christian institutions don’t also follow .

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 1:10 PM By Vivian
Easy way to let all them ‘sweet things” keep their legs open, promiscuity can run rampant. Way to go Obama eay way to destroy many lives. As Mother Teresa said, why should a baby have to die so that a woman can live as she pleases. After all, she’s got that special Obama care.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 1:44 PM By Kris
thomas Miles, I am not sure if you are catholic and maybe do not understand the impact of what you are saying, however, the University will now be taking a far greater burden on financially, not to mention, accelerate the rath of the government, by making the stand they are making. Your tone in your email, seems to indicate this may not matter to you. However, to those who understand the moral and theological implication, we can only be proud of what Steubenville is doing.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 2:11 PM By Abeca Christian
God bless this University! I hope that more will follow this great example! I hope it tells the government to butt out and stop controlling people! To stop forcing people to pay for services that offend our faith! This takes great guts and takes great consistency from all of us! We need bigger organization to follow this great example in order to make a difference! This Obama administration is very Anti- American and Anti-religious freedom! Their socialist beliefs are extremist and close to communism!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 2:41 PM By Ellizabeth
Thomas Edward Miles……You state that ‘this would never happen in a Jesuit U’ and thereby is the problem with the Jesuit Universities!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:12 PM By Jean
I’m thinking Obama covered his back side on this one as far as college age voters goes. Doesn’t the health care mandate require insurance companies to keep these students on the parents’ plans well past college age?

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:14 PM By Mark
Vote your conscience this election. God Bless Franciscan U.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:29 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
8:17 AM By MD, Instead of writing “God Love You” to persons like peter, TEM, Mark from PA etc. etc. don’t you think it is more appropriate to write “may God have mercy on your poor soul”? God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 4:00 PM By Fran
Thank you FUS for standing up for our Catholic principles, unlike some other so-called Catholic institutions. The Lord will reward you for doing the right thing. If I were going to college again today, you would be my #1 choice. God Bless You always, and please pray every day that Obama does not get re-elected. Our country will not survive if he does.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:08 PM By Mary Beth
As a mother of a Franciscan student, I am proud that she is attending a school with a conscience. Keep up the good work and God will bless your school with many, many blessings. Thank you.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:11 PM By PETE
Thomas Edward Miles, I graducated from a Jesuit University, and most of them are defrauding parents and students by stating they are “Catholic”. – Someone needs to sue them for fraud. They do not adhere to teachings of Church which are included in the CCC as required. Jesuit Universities allow heresy and schism as part of daily life. The Bishops need to consider this fraud and deal with the Catholic Universities within their own Diocese.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:29 PM By Bob Garrett
Thank you Franciscan U of Steubenville for your stand.This President is out of his mind with this abomination of a Health care Law. Don’t pay the fines and when we get him out of there in November we can repeal this miscarriage of Justice. Our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:09 PM By Dan
“This would never happen in a JESUIT U!!!!! ” Regrettably, this statement is most likely true. How far that once noble group has fallen!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:12 PM By Texas
The Univ. of Dallas, Irving, Texas (Catholic school) dropped student insurance coverage in the early nineties because it was “too expensive.” This at a time when college tuition was beginning its outrageous upward spiral. I don’t know if UD has gone back to offering student insurance since that time. I wondered when they cut it … what happened to all those homilies about social justice ?

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:26 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
4:00 PM By Fran, If the Obamanation is re-elected it will be because of the apathy of the so called Catholic voters and Bishops and of course voter fraud! She will survive, but not until their is a great deal of suffering and probable blood shed. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:28 PM By Matt
As a follow-up to MD, this is why EWTN filed a Federal suit against this Act, that they could not in conscience follow through such policies. Tom Price, EWTN’s pres, also cited the Feds would fine them $600,000 annually as long as coverage was denied to EWTN’s staff. This applies also to any business who does not cover their employees. Businesses who don’t cover part-time employees at present better make arragements because OnamaCare says ALL employees are to be covered… or be fined.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 1:39 AM By Thomas Edward Miles
Kris, I retired as a Dean from a Roman Catholic academic institution and have worked for, Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ and From, C.M. Buckley, S.J., Real JESUTS, yes I do know what a REAL JESUIT university was and is!! Thank you for condensing self righteous response!!

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:48 AM By MD
Kenneth M. Fisher-I say God Love You meaning God Bless You, a phrase I learned from listening to Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton Sheen. I do so for a couple reasons, one because Archbishop Sheen has been one of the greatest influences is my theological development and second for his intercession for the people I write to on here. I hope this helps. God Love You.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:04 AM By Tracy
Maryanne Leonard, I am afraid that what I am saying is very true. I personally know of 4 separate individuals this has happened to. Unfortunately, the families agreed to this course of action. One of these patients, actually was only given oral morphine. She dehydrated over the course of 11 days in a hospice facility. She was conscious until a day before her death. (oh, and she only had a mild stroke. She was not dying!). A fifth patient, (not a Kaiser patient), I have knowledge of was discontinued from her dialysis while in the ICU (for pneumonia) without her daughters consent or knowledge until she questioned why her mother was doing so much worse. Please let me make this very clear though, this is not only happening at Kaiser. It is common throughout the health care system, although, typically with those who have an HMO health plan. Once we have universal health care, we will have no other options other than leaving the country if that is possible. If you want a resource which will back up what I am saying, you can go to the Human Life Alliance website. They have a publication called “Imposed Death”. It is a very thorough expose of all of the current end of life issues. By the way, the cases I mentioned above fall in the category of “passive euthanasia”. Experts who push this predict that once the public sees how painful this sort of death is, they will readily go along with “active euthanasia”.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:45 PM By Dan
“Kris, I retired as a Dean from a Roman Catholic academic institution and have worked for, Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ and From, C.M. Buckley, S.J., Real JESUTS….” THomas, I have been reading your interesting posts for some time now. May I ask what you think of Frs. Fessio and Buckley, that is, do you agree with them? Or do you find yourself more inclined theologically toward Jesuits like Fr. Reese, former editor of America?

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:13 PM By JLS
Matt, what I can infer from your post is that Obamacare is a shakedown, a protection racket.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:21 PM By JLS
Jim O, no point in reading junk like you recommend, for those who study and pray the faith of Catholicism, because the hostility of the institutionalized world, flesh and devil to God is obvious to the faithful.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:26 PM By JLS
TEM, students without medical insurance can obtain care at county medical facilities like anyone else who has no way to pay.