In March last year, the Parliamentary Social Insurance Inquiry presented its final report. Today, exactly one year later, no concrete measures to improve health insurance for students have seen the light of day.
30 days waiting period, no possibility of part-time sick leave or rehabilitation, and a health insurance that is linked to the study grant. These are some of the problems that many of the country's students encounter at some point during their studies. Despite the fact that the parliamentary social insurance inquiry has given suggestions for certain improvements for sick students (see SFS comments here) nothing has happened.
For several years, SFS has worked hard to ensure that all students receive better health insurance and a safer life. Stories from students who have been affected by today's substandard health insurance system continue to trickle in via our #heltsjukt campaign. Here are excerpts from some of them:
“In July 2012, I was involved in a traffic accident. We were hit from behind on the highway. I have not yet become healthy enough to be able to take up my studies. But I have realized that if I wanted to try to study part-time, I would lose my sickness benefit. I am then classified as "healthy". I must therefore not be on part-time sick leave and study part-time. This is despite the fact that my GP believes that once it is time for me to resume my studies, I will not be able to study full-time but will have to start at a slower pace. The school has no problem with this. They have already approved that when I am healthy enough to be able to resume my studies, I can do it part time. ”
Andreas
“I have chosen to study at half speed despite my illness. I can not study full time, no matter how much I wanted to. And believe me - I needed it. Because it takes twice as long for me to take my degree, and in the meantime I will try to survive with half CSN. I have chosen to study at half speed despite this - because I have to feel that my life has a meaning, that despite my illness I still have goals, that I strive for something. Some days I feel that I can not cope, that my illness takes over and I want to quit. I can't handle it financially, and my mental health is being beaten by the immense anxiety and stress that comes with it. ”
Evelina
“Even though I gradually felt better, I can not return to my program because the semester has already begun. I can also not step up my studies in any good way, but it is all or nothing that applies. I was offered rehabilitation by my health center but it was in the form of work training. On my doctor's certificate, it says unemployed during employment. Students are not available as an option on the form. The amount of forms, phone calls, websites and information I had to go through during this time has made me not wonder if it would have been better if I had quit my studies instead and worked 25% instead. In any case, I would not have had to indebt myself to make ends meet. ”
Lina
With each passing day, more students risk experiencing the country's deficient security system. It is completely sick to build a strong nation of knowledge on a broken foundation. We cannot afford to wait another year for changes to take place.
To read the SFS consultation response on the social insurance inquiry, click here.
To read more stories click here.