The student insurance provider for at least four Ohio universities abruptly shut down in December, leaving hundreds of uninsured students in search of a replacement without a lapse in coverage, according to cleveland.com.
Student Educational Benefit Trust covered students at Columbus-based Ohio Dominican University, Hiram College, the University of Akron and the University of Toledo.
A University of Akron spokesperson told cleveland.com the insurer notified the university of its intent to shut down less than two weeks before students' coverage expired. The spokesperson said roughly 800 international students depend on the coverage, as student visas often require students to show proof they would be insured overseas. Almost 200 domestic students were also receiving coverage through SEBT.
"It's a very unfortunate situation that I know that has caused a lot of concern for families, but we're doing everything we can," the University of Akron spokesperson told cleveland.com.
A spokesperson for Ohio Dominican University said roughly 400 student athletes were enrolled in SEBT's insurance plans, but that university officials were able to find identical coverage for them.
SEBT did not return cleveland.com's requests for comment.
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