On “UMD graduate students criticize proposed health center fee”
It is unfortunate that the proposed University Health Center fee, aimed to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for essential health center services and ensure long-term student healthcare sustainability, will not be instituted. This decision significantly impacts student healthcare access.
Currently, about one in three undergraduate Terps are out-of-network and must pay full price for health center services, while more than half of in-network students still face co-pays, according to health center director Spyridon Marinopoulos. The proposed fee would have eliminated student co-pays, improving access for all students.
The fee’s rejection leaves many students without accessible healthcare. Students lacking in-network insurance or transportation to off-campus providers will continue to face financial and logistical barriers to care. Graduate students also stand to lose from the health center fee’s rejection. According to Marinopoulos, at least one-third of graduate students actively used the center for their healthcare needs last year and many more who are out of network would have gained access.
Additionally, the framing of the article underrepresents the extensive student involvement and support behind this initiative. This proposal has been a student-driven effort since the beginning. The health center director met with multiple student bodies, including the Graduate Student Government, to ensure their perspectives were considered. The student health advisory committee, the center’s internal student advisory body, engaged in extensive discussions, voting overwhelmingly in favor of the fee proposal.
Unfortunately, we think the coverage of this issue was skewed toward graduate student concerns, failing to fully represent the broader impact. We are concerned that the narrative of this article will negatively prime the readers’ perspective. We believe students should be fully informed about this fee proposal to advocate for their own equitable healthcare on campus.
This issue must be urgently revisited to ensure all students can receive necessary care without undue financial burden.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this letter to the editor said one-third of all graduate students actively used the health center each year. One-third of graduate students actively used the health center last year. This story has been updated.
Sarang Han
Senior bioengineering major and president of the university’s Student Health Advisory Committee
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