“Should the majority of students, who are responsible, have to pay an increased premium for the irresponsible student to get an abortion?” asked Charles Bowen, director of student health and counseling services at N.C. Central University.

Like many other universities, NCCU’s school-issued insurance does not cover abortion or any other “elective procedures,” said Bowen. According to the North Carolina Center of Health Statistics, in 2006, 46 percent of minority women between age 20-24 ended their pregnancies in abortion.

A nationwide study conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute found that 45 percent of women who have abortions are college-aged (18-24).

At least 80 percent of NCCU undergraduates receive financial aid, and 70 percent are insured by the school, according to NCCU’s financial aid and student health services departments.

“I’d like to say that we have what I believe to be the best in student health insurance policy within the UNC system — and one of the best in the country,” said Bowen.

NCCU’s student insurance costs $500 per year. There is no deductible and no co-pay.

The insurance covers up to $700 in prescription drugs, including birth control.

The policy also covers pregnancy and delivery expenses.

“It’s not designed to be a catastrophic policy,” said Bowen.

“If it were a catastrophic policy, the students would not be able to afford to pay for it.”

One student, who asked not to be named, has had two abortions since entering NCCU.

“I had the first when I was 17 and the second when I was 20,” she said.

“My grandmother paid for the first, and the guy I was pregnant by paid for the second.”

The student said she never thought to use the school or its resources to pay for the procedure.

She said she knows her actions were irresponsible, but said when you are young and in a committed relationship, accidents happen.

A male student, who also asked not to be named, shouldered the financial burden of abortion his freshman year at NCCU.

“I paid $400,” he said.

The student said a lot of the financial responsibility fell on his shoulders, even though he was a student.

He was insured by the school, but like the female student, he did not consider asking if the school’s insurance would cover the procedure.

“I don’t think the school should cover it,” he said.

“It’s like saying that it’s okay to come down here and f— up and we’ll take care of it,” he said.

Planned Parenthood is a recognizable name among many young adults who face unplanned pregnancies.

“Health insurance ought to cover all necessary procedures of the person being insured,” said Paige Johnson, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood’s Durham office.

“That includes everything from preventive care to abortion.”

Johnson said Planned Parenthood administers services to many students, mainly birth control, but abortions are also performed in their Chapel Hill facility.

Abortions are priced from $385 - $1,500, depending on how far along the woman is in her pregnancy.

“Students really have a hard time with how they are going to pay for the abortion,” said Johnson.

“We would absolutely support student health insurance covering abortion,” she said.

Planned Parenthood does have a Justice Fund, which is set up to help those who are financially unable to pay for the procedure, but Johnson notes that funds “are limited.”

“In North Carolina, the only public assistance there is [for abortion], are for women who have been raped, incest, or when the pregnancy is found to be harmful to the mother,” said Johnson.

Mass communications senior Greg Pulley said he doesn’t think the school should cover abortion.

“School insurance is not necessarily for that,” said Pulley.

“It’s kind of a safety net, so pregnancy shouldn’t be an issue.”

Arnetta Blackston, nursing major, is unsure whether the school should cover abortion.

“I never really thought about it,” she said.

Whether students believe that NCCU-issued insurance should absorb the cost of abortion or not, the University’s student health plan will not cover the procedure any time soon.