The QSHP proposal: 10 questions most often asked

Qualified Student Health Plans (QSHPs) have gained increasing support since the authors introduced the proposal to the field of college health in 1994. This article answers 10 of the most frequently asked questions about QSHPs and summarizes changes in the proposal that have resulted from discussions among college health professionals throughout the country. The QSHP proposal, which has been endorsed by the board of directors of the American College Health Association, offers the following benefits for the college health field and for students: It is founded on the traditional prepaid college health model and assures that control remains with higher education; participation is voluntary for employers and for institutions of higher education; no new tax funding is required; QSHPs preclude state interference and provide employers with incentives to contribute to the cost of student healthcare; both the cost of student health insurance and duplication of coverage are reduced and benefits are shifted to where the students live; the problem of uninsured and underinsured students is eliminated at participating institutions. With incremental healthcare reform continuing at the state level, the time to move forward with the proposal is viewed as ideal.