Student concerned that DSU health plan isn’t sufficient

Veronica Reynolds, a mature student at Dalhousie University, is advocating to make the student health plan more accessible. 

Reynolds, a fourth-year cinema and media studies student, graduated from Dalhousie’s dental hygiene program in 2001. Since returning to the university, Reynolds says she’s faced issues with the Dalhousie Student Union Health and Dental Plan, provided by the university and its student union through insurance broker Student VIP.

Reynolds says the health plan primarily centres around able-bodied students aged 18 to 25 and fails to sufficiently address accessibility needs. She says she has been denied coverage for essential items and medications to help with her disability. 

“I am on year four of filing appeals with the Student VIP health plan and the DSU executive to bring attention to the need for a complete and thorough overhaul of the health plan to [ensure] proper coverage and inclusivity that represents the true demographic of all Dalhousie students,” Reynolds said at the DSU’s annual general meeting on Oct. 8.

“I am holding the executive accountable to place a priority on this now.” 

Student VIP is an insurance provider that builds health and dental plans for students across Canada in partnership with student organizations.

Maren Mealey, president of the DSU, says that appeals to the current health plan go through Student VIP before being presented to the union’s executive committee for a vote.

“Sometimes, you get appeals for things that our coverage doesn’t cover,” she says. “The unfortunate limitations of health plans are that you can’t really get everything. [Accessibility] will be something we will be thinking about again when we go into the next decision-making round for those plans.”

The Dalhousie Gazette did not receive a response to a request for an interview from David Murch, Student VIP’s executive account manager, prior to publication. 

The DSU executive committee meets with Student VIP throughout the year when they receive appeals to the health plan. Additionally, they hold one large meeting per year to discuss any “huge” changes to the plan. 

Reynolds is frustrated that she isn’t allowed to attend the meeting, which is only for Student VIP staff and DSU executives. 

“I’m a student, it’s my health plan. I want to go to this meeting,” says Reynolds. “I don’t want to have to fight every year for this.”

Reynolds is one of two candidates running for the disabled students’ community representative position in the 2025 DSU byelection. The role hasn’t been filled for two years.

“I don’t have a choice but to run for this and then try to make some changes from there,” says Reynolds. “I have always been an advocate for things that need to change.”

Mealey says that while there are “unfortunate” gaps in the health plan’s coverage, she is pleased with the coverage it offers. 

“No health plan will offer perfect coverage,” she says. “I think, in terms of what we’re able to offer as a student union, it’s pretty good and decently comprehensive. We try our best to make that balance work, and we think generally it works well.”