College students diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses have plenty of concerns on their minds and worry about their futures, health, finances and studies. Last week, the state of Wisconsin took steps to lessen those concerns.

Gov. Jim Doyle signed bill AB 280 Wednesday, requiring both private and public insurance providers to continue coverage of dependent college students who must leave school or reduce their course load because of illness. Under the previous law, students would lose insurance coverage if they were unable to prove their status as a full-time student.

To receive coverage under the new law, a student's doctor must certify that the student requires a medical leave of absence. This certification and proof of the leave of absence from a student's college must be provided to insurance carriers. Coverage granted by AB 280 continues for one year after the certification, according to the Web site for Doyle's office.

To show proof of medical leave to insurance carriers, Marquette students would go through the dean's office of the college that houses their primary major. Deans on campus approve all leaves of absence and, once a student is approved, can provide the student with the appropriate documentation, said Registrar Georgia McRae.

John Nygren, a Republican state representative from Marinette, said that when "the unforeseen takes place, you have to make a choice of losing your health at the time you need it the most or taking a course load you cannot handle.

"(The new law) allows students to make the choice that is best for them and their studies, not their parents' pocketbooks."

When University of Wisconsin-Marinette student Zach Grun became ill in February 2007 and faced losing insurance coverage while undergoing major surgeries, his parents contacted Nygren.

"We looked into it and realized under current law, there's potential for students to fall through the cracks," Nygren said. "No one understood that could happen with young and invincible people going off to school."

Motivated by a constituent and armed with an insurance background, Nygren authored legislation to change that and helped push the law through the state legislature.

"We talked about the problem (with insurance companies) and they agreed it was something we could change and correct," Nygren said. "We were successful in educating people about the problem. Everybody understood and Republicans and Democrats really worked together."

The legislation passed both Wisconsin houses unanimously.

The Wisconsin legislation is based on Michelle's Law, a piece of New Hampshire legislation named for Michelle Morse, a former Plymouth State University student who had to continue taking courses while undergoing chemotherapy in her battle against colon cancer.

As part of a family with average income and another child in college, Michelle was not able to make the large medical payments the family would have faced if she put her education on hold, said her mother AnnMarie Morse.

"We were told that's the law and if you don't like it, change the law," she said. "So, that's what I'm trying to do."

Michelle's Law or versions of the bill exist in both houses of Congress and have been passed in New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania is working on a draft of the law and Iowa and California officials are ready to submit bills to their state legislatures, Morse said.

Although the New Hampshire law was passed too late to help Michelle, who died before the bill left committee in 2005, the family continues to fight for passage of the law.

"We're taking something so painful for us and using it to positively help other people," Morse said.

"Michelle's Law

 Allows full-time college students to take up to 12 months medical leave

 First signed into law on June 22, 2006, in the New Hampshire State Legislature.

Source: www.michelleslaw.com