ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Student Insurance Advisory Committee at Cornell University announced today (May 2, 2002) that its Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) will be administered by the Chickering Group for the seventh year in a row.

"The continuation of the Chickering contract allows us to provide continuity in coverage for students already on the plan and offer an outstanding value to every student in need of health insurance," said Allen Bova, chair of the committee, which is comprosed of undergraduate and graduate student representatives, university administrators and staff at Gannett: University Health Services.

Bova said the committee is pleased that this year's renewal agreement holds rate increases to 9 percent. "Due to medical inflation, especially the growing costs of prescription drugs, health insurance rates nationwide are increasing dramatically this year and are up an average of 13 to 16 percent," he said. "Obviously, we are pleased with the renewal numbers that we have. We have heard of some institutions facing a 50 percent increase in their cost this year. Our local medical community, Aetna and Chickering continue to provide Cornell students and families with a health insurance plan that provides extensive coverage at the most reasonable rate."

SHIP is developed especially for Cornell students and meets the student health insurance standards developed by the American College Health Association (ACHA). The plan receives important input from the advisory committee.

"I would like to thank the students on the committee this year since their input was valuable in helping us makes some important decisions to increase the benefits in a number of areas to meet the needs of the students," Bova said. The SHIP is an accident and sickness policy designed to provide extensive coverage at a reasonable cost for most on- or off-campus medical care and to guard against catastrophic expenses. Pre-existing medical conditions are covered. Plan members are covered 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world. Like many other universities, Cornell requires that all students have health insurance. As Ithaca is "out of network" for many private insurers, more and more Cornell students are opting for the SHIP. At $1,041 for individual coverage in the Ithaca area and anywhere in the world, this plan represents an excellent value for comprehensive student health insurance in the state of New York, Bova said.

The Chickering Group, which has served as the third-party administrator of the Cornell SHIP for the past six years, specializes exclusively in the student health insurance business. It has a partnership with Aetna U.S. Healthcare (AUSHC) to provide comprehensive, affordable health insurance to college students. The partnership provides access to AUSHC's national physician, hospital and pharmacy networks.

Chickering first won a bid to provide health insurance for Cornell students in 1996 by providing a reduction in the price of the plan and adding a popular prescription plan.

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