Why is health insurance policy mandatory?

As per the AAMC and Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSUSOM), all WSUSOM medical students are required to maintain health insurance as a condition of enrollment. In the medical school's experience, prior to making health insurance mandatory, was that many students purchased inadequate plans for most illness and injury situations. By negotiating comprehensive and reasonably priced benefits packages from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, we are ensuring that students have the coverage they need. By making the plan mandatory for a 12-month period, we ensure that every registered student has adequate coverage for the entire year.

Why am I NOT allowed to purchase my own individual policy?

WSUSOM's prior experience found that many students tended to buy the cheapest insurance which left them with inadequate insurance coverage for illness or injury. Additionally, some students merely purchased a policy so that they could register for courses, but later let it lapse. This left them open to the massive financial burden that illness or injury can bring. The School of Medicine undertook a comprehensive review of a variety of policies and chose two that best meet the needs of medical students at a reasonable cost. Medical students participated in the selection of the current policy and its benefits.