STUDENTS: INCLUDE THE LAST 3 DIGITS OF YOUR STUDENT ID # IN YOUR SIGNATURE so we know that you are a current UMassD grad student!

Please also include a comment on this issue, which the decision makers may read to better understand this situation from more perspectives. Thank you!

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PETITION FOR CHEAPER HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UMASS DARTMOUTH GRADUATE STUDENTS:

The majority of UMass Dartmouth's 1,400 graduate students were required to pay $2,512 in August 2019 for the only available (and fancy) annual health insurance plan. And this upcoming August 2020, the price will increase to $2,737, AND the Assistance Program for student health insurance is ending! This high price is extremely burdensome, because the average Teaching Assistant net income is only $11,600 per year (after other university fees and income taxes). After paying the $2,512 mandatory health insurance fee, we only have $760 per month for ALL living expenses. Yes, these numbers are accurate! Many graduate students cannot even pay for rent or food sometimes.

UMass Dartmouth graduate students need a health insurance option for the minimal essential coverage required by law, and it must be much cheaper than the current plan offered.

UMass Lowell has the exact same plan as UMass Dartmouth, provided through the same company (BC&BS MA) and with the exact same coverages, but is $611 cheaper per student per year. We heard that this was due to the higher Medical Loss/Cost Ratio of UMass Dartmouth, or because of economies of scale with more graduate students at UMass Lowell. Yet there has been no documentation provided to support these claims.

We are required to pay $2,512 for mandatory health insurance to mitigate potential risks, yet we cannot afford actual monthly expenses like rent and simple food. Our health is undoubtedly affected, for example suffering headaches due to iron deficiency because we can't afford a healthy diet or even vitamin supplements. Our mental health also suffers because of the stress and anxiety of our bills.

Currently, many graduate students only focus on graduating as fast as possible, even with non-valuable research and unrewarding work. When asked if we would recommend UMass Dartmouth, many of us encourage people to steer clear of this university and go to any other school if they have been accepted elsewhere.

UMass Dartmouth graduate students are required to pay way too much money for mandatory health insurance. We need a MUCH cheaper option!

If our health insurance cost less, UMassD graduate students could more easily afford our basic needs like rent and food. We would be more likely to stay on campus and complete our graduate studies, boosting retention. We would be able to present and publish our work, increasing the reputation of the university. Finally, we would be more likely to encourage others to attend UMass Dartmouth, which would boost enrollment.

Graduate students are assets for every university, and when supported adequately we can increase the money and the name of the campus.

Please help UMass Dartmouth graduate students improve the quality of our lives, and also improve the university! Please provide a much cheaper health insurance option than the current plan offered.

Respectfully,

Graduate Student Senate

And the graduate students signing this petition

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth