NIU student health service fees no longer provide for emergency service at Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Instead, students referred to the hospital will have to rely on either NIU’s health insurance policy or parental health insurance coverage.

Linda Jennings, University Health Services administrative assistant, said the health center previously paid for any emergency service after referring students to KCH. “If a student came in (to the health center) after clinic hours and had a broken leg, for example, we would refer him to the hospital and the health services would pay the bill.”

Jennings said NIU’s contract with KCH no longer exists, so student health insurance will need to be used.

NIU requires students to hold a health insurance policy, whether it be the NIU insurance plan or a parental insurance plan.

The NIU insurance plan (Blue Cross and Blue Shield) will cover 80 percent of a student’s hospital bill if the health center refers him to the hospital for a “medically necessary visit.” This would include a broken bone or severe headache, for example.

“If we refer a student for a life-threatening emergency, the plan would pay for 100 percent of the hospital bill up to $750. Then, 80 percent after that amount,” Jennings said. If any student visits the hospital without receiving health center care first, it will be up to the insurance company to decide what it will pay.

Dana Mills, assistant director for Administrative Health Services, said, “We were receiving a sizable discount and Kishwaukee (Community Hospital) felt they could no longer live with that.”

He said he recommends students visit the health center before going to the hospital because of the insurance plan. “We are trying to communicate the new policy to all students and will be sending a letter out to those who registered for the fall semester,” Mills said.

He said about 1,000 students use the hospital’s emergency service every year, 800 of which are referred by the health center.

Hospital President Wayne Fesler said that because of the former contract, KCH lost about $50,000 each year. He said inflation and increased student utilization were factors in the hospital’s decision to end the contract with NIU.