A legislative subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for later this month on Michigan State University's new policy that this year's freshmen carry health insurance. Students who don't have coverage will be enrolled in a university plan.
Republican Representative Kevin Cotter requested the hearing by the House higher education budget subcommittee.
"The main concern is the cost of tuition," says Republican Representative Kevin Cotter. He requested the hearing by the House higher education budget subcommittee. "This is now going to increase at the rate of $1,500 dollars per year the cost to attend their school, and this will be a pre-requisite of admission and continued attendance."
State Representative Bob Genetski, who chairs the House higher education budget subcommittee, says the Michigan State rule sounds a little too close for his comfort to the federal health care law, and its mandate that everyone has to have insurance.
"If MSU is mandating that students buy health insurance, it's definitely something to look into," Genetski says. It sounds like the early onset of Obamacare and I don't know that that's their right to put it in."
He says the policy should wait until there's a Supreme Court ruling on the federal health insurance mandate.
MSU officials defend the policy, saying it encourages students to get health care when they need it. They say a sickness can quickly sweep across campus if students go untreated.
Michigan State officials have extended the deadline for this year's freshman students to find coverage or enroll in the university plan to the end of February. That will allow time for the legislative hearing.
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