Objectives of the Practice

In order to provide short term medical cover to the students, the college has taken the initiative to introduce an Insurance Scheme named ST.THERESA’S AROGYA RAKSHITA SCHEME (STARS). The objectives of the practice are as follows:

• To increase access to quality basic healthcare for financially weak students.
• To directly create awareness about diseases and malnutrition among students.
• To lower absenteeism among students due to ill-health.
• To build sustainable medical amenity in the campus.

The Context

Health is the primary concern for any individual. It is more so for the students because being absent due to ill-health may affect their academic performance. Hence a medical insurance in the college for the students would help them to overcome the barriers of ill-health. As a part of the program, the needy would be eligible to use the MEDICAL BENEFITS especially the financially weak students.

The Practice

The medical cover is limited only to the students of Ch.S.D.St.Theresa’s College as long as they are studying in the campus. The scheme includes Health screening, identification of over or under nutrition among the students, Health and Nutrition education awareness programs, correction of deficiencies if any and partial reimbursement of medical expenses for hospitalization for financially backward students.

Obstacles faced if any and strategies adapted to over come

• The medical coverage may not be enough to sufficiently cover the medical cost in serious conditions.
• Many students health insurance policies exclude coverage for medical conditions that exist prior to the inception of the coverage. This is commonly referred to as a “pre-existing condition” exclusion. Common exclusions include: psychiatric care, prescription medicines etc.
• Lack of awareness among the students about the benefits of medical insurance.
• Negligence about health and malnutrition among women students are factors of concern which cannot be dealt by merely providing them with medical insurance.

The strategies which are adopted in order to overcome these obstacles are creating an awareness about different health issues by ways of seminars, guest lectures, conducting periodical checkups etc.

Impact of the practice

STARS represents an insurance group. Health care reform efforts need to take into account the special needs of adolescents and the challenges they face in accessing care that go beyond financial barriers to care. STARS have been shown to provide a convenient and acceptable source of care, as well as offering the opportunity to provide preventive and primary care services. This practice will surely benefit the students in long run as they would become more conscious about their health.