For decades the term college student has been identified and associated with words such as broke, poor and Ramen noodles. Although I have not eaten Ramen during my three years at Georgia Southern, it is believed to be a favorite of college students because of their lack of monetary funds and the cheapness of such a delectable treat.
However, there is now a threat to our already scarce funds creeping on the horizon. As if the failing economy were not enough of a downer as we walk across that stage and proudly receive our diplomas for which we have so diligently worked, there is yet another factor that is ready to pick our pockets the second we turn our tassel.
There has been a constant buzz about health care reform everywhere from the dinner table to newspaper headlines and town hall meetings across the country for the past several months. Terms such as single-payer and universal health care have become a part of our everyday vocabulary because of this legislation.
What many young people under the age of 30 might not thoroughly understand however is that this legislation will require everyone, including poor young people to have some form of health insurance. For those who may not know, whenever you graduate college or fall below a full-time student (no longer taking 12 or more credit hours) you are automatically dropped from your parent’s health insurance policy.
Under this new health initiative, young adults would be required to buy at least minimum coverage, according to The Washington Post. Not only would this reform require young adults to purchase coverage, but also if an individual failed to do so they would be fined between $750-$950 per year. Insurance company experts stated that even the cheapest plans offered would still be over $100 a month. That would mean that the fine for not purchasing coverage would be cheaper for struggling young people than the cheapest coverage available.
According to a 2008 study by Urban Institution, more than 10 million young adults, between the ages of 19-26, do not currently have health insurance. Experts call this group the “young invincibles,” according to The Washington Post. They were given this name because this group either decides that their youth trumps any health concerns that could arise or that they would rather spend the money on other things.
Many young adults are also uninsured, according to the article, because they work for employers that do not offer health insurance, they may not qualify for public programs like Medicaid or even the lowest amount of coverage from private insurance companies is too expensive.
President Obama sees young people, or citizens below the age of 30, as the richest vein of support for his reform plan. He is also planning that this same demographic be the major funding for these changes, according to the article.
The proposed bill would also have a large negative effect on young adults with severe health issues. Policy experts also worry that these citizens might not be able to afford the expensive plans that their conditions would require.
But there is hope on the horizon for us young people. According to the article, there was another bill introduced Wednesday that offers a proposal to keep premiums manageable. However, what Congress’ view of manageable is compared to the average college graduate probably differs a great deal. While I do agree that health reform is needed, I do not believe that it should be at the expense of the young people in America.
*Courtesy of The George-Anne
