OH and PA universities adapt to ACA requirements

Several Ohio and Pennsylvania universities and colleges have changed their student health plans to comply with the Affordable Care Act. The Columbus Dispatch explained many institutions of higher learning have either amended or discontinued certain student health coverage because of the ACA’s restriction protecting the insured from paying a premium or being excluded due to pre-existing conditions.

At the same time, universities and colleges cannot limit annual benefits, the newspaper indicated. As a result, Miami University in Ohio will no longer offer its basic health plan because it didn’t meet the minimum requires imposed by the ACA. Meanwhile, Ohio State University spokesman Dave Isaacs told the Dispatch that the school removed limits on lifetime benefits for student coverage starting in the 2012-13 academic year, and the university’s health plan covers 100 percent of physical exams.

Pennsylvania State University took the early first steps to begin complying with the ACA after its passage in 2010. For instance, the university began a preventative care initiative to help protect against influenza on campus and push students and faculty to quit using tobacco products at no cost, according to a university news release. Similar to its educational counterparts in Ohio, Penn State removed lifetime caps on health coverage and offers benefits to students up to the age of 26 who are still recognized as dependents.