Law assists students with medical leave

In the event of medical leave due to serious chronic illnesses, many students are left without health insurance. But a new federal law allows full-time college students to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans in the event of medical leave.
Michelle’s Law, named after Michelle Morse who was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and forced to stay in school in order to remain on her parents’ health insurance plan, was put into effect Oct. 9, said American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Spokeswoman Audrey Pernik.
“Michelle’s Law will prevent other families from having to walk in our shoes, watching their college student fight for their health coverage while fighting for their life,” said AnnMarie Morse, Michelle’s mother. “Michelle’s Law plunged one hole, but the health care system has seen many more problems that leave many people struggling to access and afford the care they need.”
Michelle Morse passed away days before the law was first passed in New Hampshire in 2005, according to michelleslaw.com.
The new law, which was previously active only in New Hampshire, was signed a year ago by former President George W. Bush to become a federal law, Pernik said. It allows full-time college students to take up to 12 months of medical leave for chronic illnesses such as cancer.
The law does not apply to part-time college students, which means a student must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester, she said.
Students must be on their parents’ health insurance plans and must provide written documentation from a medical professional explaining the reason for medical leave, according to a report on the ACSCAN Web site.
It does not require insurance companies to cover any new procedures or new individuals, but it prohibits them from dropping coverage for a specific class of beneficiaries and is scored at no cost at the Congressional Budget Office, according to the report.
In the past, students would be kicked off their parents’ plans once they left college or in event of medical leave, according to an ACSCAN press release.
Pernik said this has been an issue for a long time, and it is about time the problem was fixed.
“[This is] one of many loopholes that needed to be plugged,” she said. “We are using this … to fill a gap in health care by passing health care legislation.”
School of Arts and Sciences senior Kelly Christian said the new law is crucial for students and parents struggling to get the benefits they need while staying in school.
“Students need to be on their parents’ health care plans during times of medical emergencies,” Christian said. “A student most likely will not be able to have a health plan of their own, plus it would help out the parents dealing with the financial means of a medical issue.”
But she said the law should not only apply to full-time college students.
“I don’t believe it should be only for full-time students. I think part-time students should be able to stay on their parent’s health plan as well,” Christian said. “A student’s first priority is school and then money; with the rise of education, students are staying in school longer, making it hard to have a job with benefits.”
But Pernik said the law only applies to full-time students because most part-time students are not allowed to remain on their parents’ plans upon entering college, depending on the health insurance provider.
AnnMarie Morse worked tirelessly with ACSCAN to pass Michelle’s Law in New Hampshire in 2006, Pernik said. She continued to work to pass the law last year at the federal level.
When her daughter was diagnosed with cancer, despite the doctor’s recommendation to leave school, Michelle Morse was forced to remain a full-time student so she could receive health benefits from her parents’ plan, according to the press release.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Tran Hoang, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student. “It’s really important for people who are sick with things like cancer so that they can stay home and maybe go back to school when they can.”
AnnMarie Morse continues to volunteer with ACSCAN.