Hi, everyone,

Thanks a lot for so much encouragement and support from all you guys in the issue of student health insurance.  We, however, in honor of Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, have to announce that no improvement will be made on the current policy on student health insurance for Fall 2006, which means that all international students must choose among two health insurance programs including TTU Employer Plan (FirstCare) or Student Plan (UniCare).

 We have approached Dr. Dean O. Smith, the Vice President for Research, on this issue and the information he gathered for us from his meeting with the highest authority (Reagent meeting) of TTU, which we had not been offered a chance to participate in, has turned the whole thing upside down.  The administrative authority would not make any change on the current policy of health insurance at this time and would not like to discuss this issue with the representatives from different student organizations of TTU any more.  We have to concede for Fall 2006 under high pressure.

 In our understanding, for senior international students who hold teaching assistantship or research assistantship, you may choose either one from Firstcare health insurance plan (better coverage) and Unicare health insurance plan. When you choose Firstcare plan, you are required to download the waiver form from the OIA website http://www.ttuhsc.edu/studenthealth/forms.aspx

and submit to Office of International Affairs as soon as possible because the deadline is 8/19/06 00:00AM.  If you are a new-coming international student, you have to choose Unicare health plan which premium will be automatically charged on your tuition account. A detailed list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) is posted in the following link:

http://www.iaff.ttu.edu/main/isss/faqs/healthins.asp .

 If you have any question we can help, please feel free to contact with us.

 Firstcare Summer Enrollment ends today!
If you still need to make changes to your benefits, now's the time to read about your enrollment options for Plan Year 2007. https://bata.ers.state.tx.us/psp/bprd/?cmd=login

 We will continue to pursuit our request to the authority for the sake of next year’s policy establishment and hopefully there would be a committee meeting which we can be a member and express our opinion in when the next year’s policy is coming into discussion soon.

 We kindly remind you here to pay all tuitions including the health insurance premium by the due day (August 21^st), otherwise, your registration will be invalid or lead to a penalty of late fee.

 Thanks again for all your patience and support!

Best,

Qingjun Luo & Cixin He

Vice President & President

ACSSL