Health Center services more than worth proposed fee hike

By Neil Gibson
Special to The Collegian

As Fresno State students, we are in danger of losing valuable medical services that are available to us.

Due to rising medical costs, a decline in university enrollment and a decrease in general fund support, our Health Center’s budget has been running in the red. It is now apparent that without our help, our medical services will be cut and we will lose some of the very people who work to keep us healthy.

The significance of our Health Center cannot be overstated; nearly 10,000 students made 35,243 visits last year. Furthermore, 35 percent to 45 percent of Fresno State students do not have health insurance and our Health Center is their only health care option. Luckily, unlike our parking headaches and surprise class cuts, we have the ability to do something to save the Health Center.

In a few weeks, students will be voting on whether to raise our Health Center fee by $20 per semester.

Although I dislike the thought of raising student fees, this proposal makes a lot of sense.

Even if we are lucky enough to have insurance, most co-payments for one visit to a doctor cost about $20. At Fresno State, we are able to make unlimited walk-in visits to our Health Center and have access to doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, technicians and a pharmacy.

This does not include the variety of other health services provided to us at minimal to no cost.

Finally, our health center fee is very reasonable when compared with other universities in the CSU system. Currently, we have one of the lowest student fees in the whole CSU system at $65 per semester, but we benefit from some of the best services, with six physicians.

Many comparable campuses do not even come close. Bakersfield has a $75- per-semester fee and only has two physicians, and Stanislaus has a fee of $88 per semester with only two physicians.

Chico offers comparable services, but does so with a fee of $105 per semester.

As college students, $20 a semester can make a huge difference in our personal budgets. But when I look at the costs of medicine today, I would be happy to pay a little extra to keep the health services we all need.

When the time comes to vote next month, carefully review both sides of this referendum and make the decision to support our Health Center.