Do I have to comply to their rule of having an insurnace policy for my daughter?
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Do I have to comply to their rule of having an insurnace policy for my daughter?
My daughter is a student athlete at a local private college. We, as a family, have insurance privately through a ‘med-share’ program called Christian Healthcare Ministries. As far as the federal government is concerned, this qualifies under the ACA, but according to the college’s athletic insurance company, it does not qualify as a healthcare program. Is it legal for the college to tell me that I have to obtain another separate policy for my student-athlete? Personally, I feel like it violates my religious rights and what I believe concerning my medical expenses, etc.
Asked on April 26, 2016 under Insurance Law, South Carolina
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Obamacare is not relevant here. A private college may set its own criteria for what insurance it requires students, especially student-athletes, to have. If you are unwilling to provide insurance satisfactory to the college, they do not have to let your daughter participate in their sports program--they don't have to take what they consider an unacceptable risk of liability through you not providing what they consider adequate insurance. This has nothing to do with your religious rights: you have the right to your religious beliefs and to have the insurance you like--what you don't have is the right to make someone else accept your religiously inspired belief as to what constitutes adequate insurance. You and your daughter may have her insurance through Christian Healthcare Ministries; but she can't have it through them while playing sports at this particular college.
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