Univ. of Florida may require proof of insurance
Univ. of Florida could join Florida State University in requiring proof of health insurance
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- The University of Florida may start requiring new students to show proof of health insurance.
UF's trustees are scheduled to discuss a proposal on Thursday to require the freshmen class of 2014 to have insurance in order to enroll. The mandate would not apply to currently enrolled students.
UF officials estimate that anywhere from 15 percent to 17 percent of students are not insured.
Florida State University adopted a health insurance mandate back in 2007. But state legislators temporarily blocked the state's other public universities from enacting similar policies.
Voters last fall defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned mandates to purchase health insurance.
Under UF's proposal students would either need to show proof of insurance, or they would be required to enroll in the school's GatorCare program.
