Important UAW/UMass/AETNA Coinsurance Settlement Update

Your union, the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO/UAW Local 2322), and the University of Massachusetts have agreed on a grievance settlement for the out-of-pocket (OOP) health insurance expense amounts that graduate employees in are required to pay for plan year 2011-2012. Under this settlement agreement, the University agrees that the out-of-pocket maximum for graduate student employees covered under the student health insurance plan (AETNA Student Health) … Continue reading

Chancellor’s Update on UHS Steering Committee

To the Campus Community: I am writing today to provide an update on the university’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). At my request, a special committee is exploring possible modifications to SHIP as it develops competitive bid specifications for coverage in fiscal 2013. Associate Chancellor Susan Pearson is chairing this broad-based panel, which will review the current coverage and discuss different mixes of policy benefits … Continue reading

Chancellor’s Message on Changes to University Health Services

From: “UMass Chancellor’s Office” <official-chancellors@admin.umass.edu> Date: December 21, 2011 2:34:37 PM EST To: massmail-l@oit.umass.edu Subject: Special Committee to Study Proposed Changes at UHS To the Campus Community, In recent weeks, you may have heard about proposed changes at University Health Services (UHS). To respond to concerns raised by some staff, students, faculty and the community, I am creating a special committee that will undertake a … Continue reading

Grad Program Directors’ letter in response to Coinsurance

Prof. John R. Mullin, Dean of the Graduate School Prof. Jean Kim, Vice-Chancellor Student Affairs and Campus Life Prof. James V. Staros, Provost November 28th, 2011 Dear Colleagues, We, the Graduate Program Directors of 29 departments and programs, are writing to express our deep concerns about the recent and upcoming changes to student health services, particularly the changes to the Student Health Insurance Policy. Many … Continue reading

Consultant’s Report on University Health Services

GEO has learned that Vice-Chancellor Jean Kim is demanding that the departments under her (including University Health Services, Student Development, and Residential Life) hire consulting firms in order to cut costs.  University Health Services was the first area to hire a consultant, and GEO has the report, which outlines the reasoning behind recent cuts to the Student Health Insurance Plan, staffing and hours. This report, … Continue reading