Michigan State University administrators recently announced they will not go forward with the planned mandatory health care requirement dubbed “Simoncare” due to “multiple complaints” from the student body.
The school has scaled back its plans to mandate a school-sponsored insurance plan for students after “multiple complaints” which resulted from a campaign orchestrated by activist Nick Kowalski, a rising senior. The school announced on Monday, June 25, 2012 that the insurance mandate for incoming students will not apply for the 2012-2013 school year.
The plan, dubbed “Simoncare,” after MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, went into effect in the fall of 2011. The plan was controversial, as it charged students who did not report having insurance a fee of $1,505, to be covered by the school’s insurance. Three hundred and twenty students were charged this fee—with no way to opt out of this charge.
Opponents of the plan were quick to point out its similarities to the Affordable Care Act, and questioned if the university could effectively force students to buy a product they do not want.
Kowalski launched a campaign against “Simoncare,” by writing multiple blogs, op-eds in the campus paper, and questioning the president of the university. When all of these proved fruitless, he appeared on a local radio show to discuss the mandate. Kowalski encouraged others to call the president and complain about the fees.
The complaints were effective, and “the next business day” the plan was reversed. Kowalski is not sure how many calls the president of the university actually received, but is pleased with the announcement.
*This article was written by Christine Rousselle and originally posted on CampusReform.org.
Posted by Nicholas Kowalski 
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