IU plans to open new health clinic

Paul Rohwer wanted to light up a cigar when he first heard the news that IU is taking steps to open a health clinic, which will provide medical and dental care for graduate students, employees and their families.\n“I’m sending President Herbert my congratulations,” said Rohwer, moderator of the IU Graduate and Professional Student Organization.\nResearch and teaching assistants will also benefit from the clinic.\nIU’s plan is for the clinic to operate similar to the IU Health Center. While no decisions have been made about where and when the clinic will open or who will operate it, construction plans are in the works. \n“Dental coverage is a concern for most graduate students,” Rohwer said. “Graduate students with families and children will be provided general health care at a lower cost.”\nRohwer said he heard that “people are high-fiving each other,” and he said the general consensus is that the clinic is “fantastic.”\nRohwer said graduate and international students had discussed changes to University-provided insurance this year in an effort to benefit both groups. \nWith the new clinic, Rohwer feels this will benefit everyone the new clinic will cover.\nLast year, health premiums increased by about 60 percent, Rohwer said. About three-fourth of dependents of those insured were unable to be covered by the University because of the high cost, he said.\nDescribing himself as a “cheerleader” of the plan, Rohwer could not be happier with the University’s initiative to open this clinic for employees, families and graduate students. \n“Throughout the year, deans and faculty have made the University aware that it is important for recruitment and retainment,” Rohwer said of having benefits, quality medical and dental coverage.