by Anonymous
Penn’s Student Health Services (SHS) is supposed to support students in both their physical and mental well-being. However, changes in accessibility, insurance policies, and the quality of mental health services raise concerns regarding its commitment to student wellness.
While SHS offers a range of health services to students, their accessibility falls short of their mission statements. Scheduling an appointment can take several months, and its location, distant from campus, makes it difficult to find. SHS is severely understaffed and consistently booked, resulting in a waitlist to receive essential services like vaccinations or general check-ups. As a result of the overwhelming demand for medical assistance, SHS frequently refers students to other in-network physicians or care facilities that are equally overwhelmed.
The university’s insurance requirement has also raised concerns among students. Penn mandates that all students have medical insurance, whether through a third-party plan that meets specific criteria or the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP), which carries a hefty price tag of around $4000 per year. Penn’s insurance requirement proves to be problematic for students who do not reside on campus, as was the case during the Fall 2020 semester.
In addition to issues surrounding physical health appointments, Penn’s mental health services have garnered even more criticism. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers drop-in services, individual therapy, group therapy, pharmacotherapy, and referral services. However, CAPS faces a similar backlog to SHS, with a notoriously long waitlist for initial appointments. In an environment as demanding and competitive as Penn, students require a robust mental health support system from the institution itself. Insufficient staffing, funding, and integration of mental health awareness within the university contribute to the problem.
The Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT), a student-run organization that provides emergency medical services, plays a crucial role on campus. Although primarily associated with alcohol-related incidents, MERT assists in all types of emergencies, including transportation to hospitals when necessary. In the past, ambulance rides cost upwards of $1000, but now transportation is covered by the Alternative Response Unit (ARU). However, emergency room services can still be costly depending on insurance coverage and provided care. The costs pose accessibility challenges for many First-Generation and/or Low-Income (FGLI) students and those with underlying health conditions, exacerbating Penn’s issues related to ableism.
Whether it pertains to SHS or MERT, the core issue with on-campus medical services lies in its accessibility rather than the quality of the services themselves. Most of the challenges stem from understaffing and institutional factors such as inadequate funding. Students should not have to wait months for assistance with depression symptoms, essential vaccinations, or even basic primary care checkups. Every student deserves comprehensive support from the university’s medical services, which is why it is crucial for Penn to prioritize the health of its student body, in turn fostering an inclusive and supportive community, particularly for disabled and marginalized students.
Penn Disorientation Guide 