Health care reform will affect college students

The U.S. Census Bureau found earlier this month that 17 percent of North Carolinians are currently without health insurance.

Supporters of health reform on a national and university level say this finding backs their position.

Adam Linker, a health policy analyst with the N.C. Justice Center, said that the state’s uninsured rates are higher than the national average of 15 percent partially because of high rates of joblessness.

“People get health care through their employers, and we’re facing one of the fastest-growing unemployment rates in the country,” Linker said.

Several reforms both at the state and federal level now aim to reduce that percentage and provide affordable coverage to a wider community. This includes President Barack Obama’s proposed health care reform, which Linker said will cover up to 97 percent of the N.C. population.

College-age students are one demographic directly affected by the stipulations of Obama’s reform plans — expanding the cutoff age for dependents from 22 to 26.

“Part of the idea of the reform is to give subsidies to those who can’t afford insurance, like college grads,” Linker said.

“This will also allow people to stay on their parents’ insurance longer as a dependent, providing a little more flexibility for students as well.”

Because current undergraduates might not be able to find a job straight out of school, they are less likely to have health insurance coverage when they graduate.

While the UNC system is unable to help with post-graduation coverage, it is trying to lower the current rate of uninsured students — 16 percent in 2007, according to Pam Silberman, president of the N.C. Institute of Medicine.

The UNC-system policy making body, the Board of Governors, recently approved requiring students to have insurance by fall 2010.

“This new policy will make it more affordable because they’re buying in bulk for everyone, and it wouldn’t exclude students based on preexisting conditions,” Silberman said.

Silberman said those who cannot afford insurance themselves will be covered under financial aid packages.

The high rate of people without insurance is problematic because an uninsured nation leads to an unhealthy society, Silberman said.

“When people lack coverage, they don’t go in to get care. They’re sicker. People are diagnosed with late-stage cancer rather than early-stage cancer and die prematurely,” Silberman said.

“Not to mention, off-care expenses is one of the primary causes of bankruptcy in U.S., whether you don’t have coverage or you have inadequate coverage.”

Linker said all tax-payers share the communal burden and cost of emergencies with the uninsured.

“We have to keep in mind the cost we all pay when those without coverage go to the hospital for care or treatment,” Linker said.

“The best way to reduce costs is to get nearly everyone covered.”


Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.