FAHC by Pamela Wheeler

BURLINGTON, VT — MRSA, Swine Flu, Avian Flu, and the common cold have swept the United States into a frenzy of precaution, anxiety, and health care concerns. With these infections and viruses running amuck Burlingtonians must find a solution to their worries. Each September, roughly 17,000 college students move to the Burlington area and with them comes their coughing and sneezing. These students spend thousands of dollars on tuition each year to become a part of the Burlington community and have a difficult time on their own trying to find affordable health care.

Nichole Magoon, Senior Graphic Design major at Champlain College pays $25,000 a year to attend. She says, “I know that most of my tuition is covered in Scholarships and Loans, but I can't afford health care trying to go to school full time and hold a job at the same time.”

Like other students, Magoon has a part time job as well as earning 15 credits per semester. The college does have an option for an affordable health insurance; the two plans, A and B, through Consolidated Health Services are offered to students who live on campus but do not have health insurance through their parents or their work. Plan A is a minimal plan that covers accidental Insurance and a small deductible towards office visits and prescriptions while Plan B is an all inclusive plan and is required for all radiography students as well as an option for students of other majors.

Magoon, who recently had blood work done during a physical, states, “Consolidated Health services covered almost half of the cost of the blood work, it was still expensive, but it would have definitely been worse without the Plan A that I have through Champlain.”

Local hospital, Fletcher Allen Health Care, also has a plan for affordable health care. For all Patients that do not have insurance, there is a 49 percent discount on the total hospital bill. For patients whose bill may still be a bit too expensive, there is the Financial Assistance Program. The program was designed to allow the patient to either gain a discount due to financial history and credit as well as put themselves on a payment plan that is both affordable and conducive to their lifestyle.

Amanda Wheeler, who lives in Addison County, has experienced the Fletcher Allen financial assistance program when she became ill at home in late October. In Addison County, the local hospital is closed on weekends so the residents of the area have to drive to Burlington to receive care. Suffering from a severe infection, Wheeler faced over $1000 in hospital bills between the physician fees and the hospital fees. Without Insurance, Ms. Wheeler had no choice but to apply for the Financial Assistance.

“I had no idea how I was going to pay these bills on top of preparing for my wedding and supporting myself and my fiancé. They told me that the Financial Assistance program could potentially wipe out 75% of my bill.”

Fletcher Allen was unable to answer questions regarding the program due to inconvenient scheduling conflicts.

“From what I understand, the program takes into account your yearly income as well as your bank information.” In other words, like many other organizations that are non-profit such as Planned Parenthood and sliding scale clinics, the program determines what amount of your bill should be covered by their funds and how much should come out of your own pocket.

Aside from the local hospitals there are many walk-in clinics that provide sliding scale payment plans for the patients that need care but can't afford to go to a hospital. Fanny Allen Walk-In clinic is a sister branch from Fletcher Allen and features medical students from the college. They take your basic information and provide services much like the hospital but at a much more affordable rate.

According to a front desk representative who wishes to remain anonymous, Fanny Allen offers everything from x-rays to physicals and even some minor surgeries. The only service that is not offered, however, are ambulance trips.

“I went in for an ear infection and I had to wait a very long time to be seen, but it only cost me a third of the price that it would have cost me if I had gone to Fletcher Allen,” says Magoon.
Planned Parenthood is a nationwide organization, funded by region that provides services to teens and young adults at affordable prices. From providing birth control methods such as Orthotricyclin-Lo(the pill), the Depo shot, and the Mirena method, all the way to assisting with family planning, STD testing, and termination of pregnancy.

Wheeler also has experience with Planned Parenthood as well. “When I was 16, I went to Planned Parenthood to get Birth Control to monitor my menstrual cycle. My mother was uncomfortable with the idea but I was able to take care of everything myself because of the patient-doctor confidentiality.”

Regardless of whether you're an independent student or young adult, or a family of four, there are resources that can help. Waiting to get help can be potentially dangerous to health and symptoms that seem unimportant may become very serious.