Students axe health plan

Although Simon Fraser students decided to remain in the Canadian Federation of Students in last week's referendum, they axed the federation's health plan.

The results of the student health plan referendum reflect a lack of confidence in the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), says Albert Chan, one of the organizers of the campaign to end the plan.

"Students at SFU dont like a health plan coming from the CFS," said Chan. "They don’t like the idea of a forced health plan that doesn't fit their needs-$105 a year is not a good deal considering the coverage being provided."

The unofficial results of last week's referendum show students vote 59 to 41 per cent to reject the health plan.

The plan, implemented in January of this year, was the target of attack from a number of extremely vocal groups on campus. Aspects under fire included the inability of students with only basic provincial health care to opt-out, as well as concerns that the CFS was receiving a large commission from student fees.

Kelly Davis, acting president of the SFSS, says that though the health plan had some problems, it wasn't all bad.

"It was poorly implemented in a lot of ways," she said, but she said the plan was still a valuable opportunity for many students.

"In principle, the idea is great-so many people have no health care options," she said.

Bob Dechambeau, a vocal critic, disagrees.

"If we're trying to get a health care plan, why wouldn't we get the most coverage for the least amount of money?" he asked.

Dechambeau says many students were suspicious of the motives of the federation.

"I don't think there is an altruistic bone in these people," he said. "The CFS gets a big, big chunk of the money out of this thing."

Respresentatives of the federation deny allegations that it is profiting from the National Student Health Network.

"It's a break-even operation," said Michael Gardiner, provincial chair of the Federation. "The only reason the CFS operates the health plan is so that individual student associations don't get ripped off by local brokers. The National Student Health Network has brought prices down for everyone. Because of this, students across the country get their health care cheaper."

Gardiner believes Simon Fraser students would have seen the benefits of the health plan if they'd stuck with it for another year.

"In other universities, the health plan has been consistently reaffirmed by 70 to 75 per cent," he said. "This was the first year it was implemented, and at any campus there are administrative problems during the first year. The problems would have been worked out by the second year."

Students who are now covered by the health plan will keep their coverage until the end of August.

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