Sept. 6 marks the student deadline for accepting or waiving Syracuse University’s health insurance plan in the first academic year in the university’s history in which full-time students are required to have health coverage.

Once an outlier from most of its peer institutions for not requiring students to have coverage, SU has rightfully moved to make insurance mandatory to account for the long-term safety and well-being of students in addition to maintaining financial stability in times of health-related emergencies. Students now have the option of using their own insurance or signing up for Aetna Student Health. If they do not have insurance or their own does not meet SU coverage standards, they will be billed for the affordable Aetna Student Health.

Although SU has seemingly caught up on policy changes that were a longtime coming, concerns surrounding the costs of the service have emerged — and remained — since the announcement of the endeavor in the spring of 2015. But the bottom-line is simply that the university-wide shift was worth it.

At the price of $2,230, this year’s policy offers the 90/10 or “platinum” plan. Ninety percent of burden is on the school and 10 percent is paid by the student out-of-pocket. Compared to the estimated $8,000 that such a plan would cost off-campus, it should be acknowledged that this package is in line with the level of affordability needed by college students. This is crucial, considering that some students withdrew from SU in the past due to medical expenses not covered by their own insurance.

Though the health care package is absolutely a reasonable deal for college kids, it is understandable why criticisms have stemmed from the fact that if a students fails to waive the school’s plan, regardless of personal insurance status, they are immediately enrolled — and charged for — the university’s Aetna option. But while $2,000 can be a large sum for most students, the plan is well worth the money when it ensures the resources students may need to preserve their health and long-term financial security.

To better reiterate this message and the ins and outs of the revamped health insurance policy, SU should re-evaluate the handful of emails sent to remind students and some parents to sign up or waive insurance heading into future years. Social media posts and newsletters aren’t enough: SU’s Health Services should make sure that all parents or guardians are contacted individually through email or phone call, so that the entire SU community is on the same page.

Young people may be tempted to think that they are invincible when it comes to their personal heath and disregard the possibility of health insurance entirely. But in the case that there is an accident or a student is diagnosed with an illness, the administration’s initiative to ensure every student has comprehensive health care coverage will have been worth it.