Get Covered -- Or Else

That’s the message Cornell is sending its students with a new plan to impose a $350 “fee” on students who don’t buy the university’s health care plan. Kaitlyn Schallhorn has more:

In an email to students, Cornell President David Skorton informed students that the university has “strained to keep pace with increasing healthcare costs.” As the additional $350 is a fee—not a tuition hike—it’s unlikely that financial aid will cover the additional cost.

“Although introducing a new fee is never desirable, moving to a model that includes a health fee—a standard in college health nationwide—will make student costs more predictable and encourage students to seek the care they need,” Skorton wrote.

He said the new fee would enable the Ivy school to “maintain and improve accessibility of health services” already offered on campus.

The new fee will go into effect for students for the 2015-2016 school year. Students who bought into Cornell’s health care option for the 2014-2015 academic year paid $2,352, according to the Cornell Review.

One way or another, you will be brought into compliance, Comrade Student.