GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To provide the knowledge and insights needed to improve products and services for colleges and universities and the students they serve, Risk Strategies Student Health Practice is sponsoring its first Annual Nationwide Student Health Benchmarking Survey. The independently developed and analyzed survey findings will establish and track national benchmarks year-over-year on school plan features and emerging trends in health care.
The Risk Strategies Student Health Practice is comprised of Academic HealthPlans (AHP), University Health Plans (UHP), and Specialty Insurance Solutions (SIS). Together, they provide student health insurance consulting and administrative services to over 350 institutions of higher education nationwide and serves more than 450,000 students.
Responses will help shape health insurance policy for academic institutions
Representatives from all U.S.-based colleges and universities, including university and college risk managers, health center professionals, and benefit specialists, are asked to complete the Nationwide Student Health Benchmarking Survey that will address key topics, including enrollment and benefits for student health plans as well as services provided by student health centers. The survey marks the first time any consulting firm has gathered comprehensive student health insurance costs and trends for the industry on an annual basis.
Survey responses will be tabulated and analyzed to develop a summary report on the current state of student health. The report will be provided for free to all survey participants and published in the Fall of 2021. All responses are anonymous. An independent market research firm will analyze the data to ensure a statistically accurate report.
“There’s a real need for better data around student health insurance,” said Elizabeth Marks, Senior Strategy Consultant for AHP. “Our goal is to become the singular industry-standard benchmark for student health data through our expertise in the industry and application of analytics. These insights will help institutions make more informed decisions about their student health plans and needed services. We urge all university and college benefit leaders to participate in this important survey that will provide the entire industry with valuable insights and guidance.”
Insights will help provide better health insurance programs for students
Finding out about student needs in a post-pandemic marketplace is vital for the nation’s 4,000 colleges and universities as well as the 19 million students they serve. Survey questions include those on increases in cost, deductibles, and copays, as well as the use of telehealth. The survey also asks respondents to note priorities for the coming school year, including interest in offering behavioral telehealth services and how to increase enrollment in institution-provided health insurance programs.
While under the Affordable Care Act, students can remain on their parent’s insurance; for many, obtaining coverages through their school provides a more targeted and cost-effective option. Mental health, physical therapy (for sports injuries) and sexual health services are of interest to college students and are often not tailored to their unique needs under traditional health insurance programs.
“Insights from this survey will help colleges and universities build better benefit healthcare benefit programs for their institutions and students,” noted Terry Lyons, Managing Director of Risk Strategies Student Health Practice. “While it only takes a few minutes to complete the survey, the data we gather will be beneficial to all. Student health programs are about more than insurance—they should be designed to set students up for long-term success with the protection of their physical, mental and financial health.”
Academic institutions interested in participating in the survey may contact Elizabeth Marks, Senior Strategy Consultant, at elizabeth.marks@ahpcare.com.
About Risk Strategies Student Health Practice
Risk Strategies Student Health Practice is a division of Risk Strategies Company, a specialty national insurance brokerage and risk management. For more than 20 years, Risk Strategies’ student health practice industry specialists, Academic HealthPlans, University Health Plans, and Specialty Insurance Solutions have been in the business of building comprehensive student health programs for higher education institutions, leading the industry in consulting, brokering and technological advances. For more information visit risk-strategies.com/industries/student-health.