THURSDAY,MAY2.2002
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THEUNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN = 9A
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may not have access to U.S. consulates and the visa process would be disrupted.
Mario Gonzalez, Bogota, Colombia senior, said he was not going home for the summer but he still worries about his relatives who live there.
For his own safety, when in Colombia, Gonzalez said that he never traveled by car between cities and lays low when attacks happen. If travelled by car in rural areas he might be kidnapped, robbed or killed because those with cars are targeted as people with money.
"A month ago, it was bad, they had to be very careful." he said.
"I worry about the violence in Colombia all the time," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said that the lawlessness in his country was spreading into larger cities like Bogota, the capital of Colombia. Everyday, the front page of the Colombia newspaper, *El Tiempo*, is filled with reports of the previous nights car bombings and kidnappings. In Colombia, much of the violence stems from fighting between rebel groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and paramilitary groups. Nearly half of Colombia is controlled by such groups and their operations are fueled by kidnapping, drug trafficking and extortion payoffs. According to the U.S. State Department, more than 3,000 people are kidnapped each year throughout Colombia, and there is a greater risk of being kidnapped in Colombia than in any other country in the world. The department issued a travel warning for Colombia last year.
Contact Shaffer at Ishaffer@kansan.com. This story was edited by Sarah Warren. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
INSURANCE
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supervisor at Watkins, files insurance claims and helps students understand their health insurance. She said students often didn't understand why they need insurance.
Belinda Rehmer, community relations director at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine St., a common misperception is that those without insurance can go to the hospital and get treated without having to pay, because hospitals must treat patients whether or not they have insurance.
The hospital must write off costs in cases of charity or when the health insurance company paid lower than the actual costs of bills. Last year, Lawrence Memorial Hospital had to write off $1.8 million.
Rehmer said people without insurance had to face the high cost of health care alone.
"The only people who pay full price are those who don't have insurance," she said.
Rehmer said that insurance companies usually didn't have to pay the full cost either, because they had a contract with the hospital.
O'Neil said he has seen Kansans in financial disaster, because they didn't have enough insurance.
"If you have the means to pay for it, the hospital will try to collect," she said.
Stephanie Covington, associate director of the Office of Financial Aid, said that KU included $85 a month in health costs into the financial need budget for graduate students. She said that the University didn't figure health costs into the need for undergraduates, but students could negotiate their need budget for health costs.
"We can adjust their budget if they show proof they pay their own insurance premiums if it would help them get more aid." Covington said.
Students may have other problems trying to pay for medical coverage if they go for long periods of time without any insurance.
O'Neil said it was important not to have a gap more than 62 days in health plan coverage because it would cause problems with the policy's pre-existing condition.
"The new insurance carrier can impose a restriction on pre-existing conditions if you go for 62 days without any policy." O'Neil said.
A pre-existing condition refers to any medical problem that the patient had received care for three months before they were covered on the policy. This could mean a chronic health problem or a minor one. O'Neil said the Kansas Insurance Department spent much time negotiating what pre-existing conditions should be covered on an insurance policy.
O'Neil said that Kansas required employers to give proper insurance to its employees, so patients with chronic health conditions could find insurance.
Consumers who have questions about specific health insurance companies or policies can call 1-800-432-2484 to reach the Kansas Insurance Department.
Student Health Services will contact insurance companies for students if they feel the company did not respond properly, or if they have a problem paying their bill at Watkins.
Contact Shuman at
mshuman@kansan.com. This story was edited by Angela Cox.
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