Phuong Dinh and father, Hiep Dinh (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
By Jocelyn Moore
December 17, 2015
info@nwasianweekly.com
Injured international students from the Ride the Ducks accident on the Aurora Bridge will be given private insurance plans if they lose student health coverage during prolonged medical leaves, state officials said last Friday.
Phuong Dinh, 18, is at the Seattle Keiro Nursing Home. She suffered a broken leg and arm from the accident, was contacted by Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s office last week and was informed that a private health-care plan may be available through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.
North Seattle College also announced that the school will cover the monthly premiums and deductibles of private insurance for Dinh and other injured students from the accident by using emergency funds gifted from the state.
Like the other victims in long-term-care facilities, Dinh will lose her student insurance in January due to not being able to enroll in school. The option of private insurance will ease the financial burden of the victims and their families.