Health care reform affects student coverage, provides options
Erica Terrini and Jillian Quattlebaum - News Editor and Contributing Writer
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
If passed, the health care reform bill might affect students' access to parental plans, employment and individual rates or an uninsured tax if VCU chooses to mandate insurance coverage.
According to Czarnecki, there are ways to make health care affordable to those who think otherwise.
"Use financial aid to pay the premium," Czarnecki said. "Add it into your cost of living."
According to ProPublica, an independent nonprofit newsroom, students who choose to remain uninsured would be forced to pay an uninsured tax of $750 a year unless the student opts for an individual insurance plan or purchases a university-sponsored plan.
"That's pretty close to the cost," Czarnecki said. "It would make more sense to pay for the insurance than pay the (tax)."
According to health economist and senior fellow for The National Center for Policy Analysis, Devon Herrick, proposals for the bill would attempt to overcharge young individuals' rates to cost-subsidize older individuals' rates. In the individual market, where many students get coverage, rates for people with pre-existing conditions, who tend to be older, would get lower premiums.
Under the existing proposals, underrides for pre-existing conditions would not be permitted while limited adjustments for age would be allowed.
"A young person - maybe 20 or 22 - would be charged half of what someone 60 years old would be charged," Herrick said. "Of course if you don't pay it, there'd be a fine … What (some Congress members) are talking about now is 2.5 percent of your income."
The figures remain speculative, Herrick said. The House passed a bill, yet, the Senate continues to work toward one consolidated bill.
"We know what (some Congress members) want to do," Herrick said. "What they want to do is have tight banding for age, no underriding for (pre-existing conditions) and have some type of individual mandate where you would be required to have coverage."
Herrick said how the individual mandate might affect students is uncertain. The policy could be implemented through an employer mandate.
According to Czarnecki, there are ways to make health care affordable to those who think otherwise.
"Use financial aid to pay the premium," Czarnecki said. "Add it into your cost of living."
According to ProPublica, an independent nonprofit newsroom, students who choose to remain uninsured would be forced to pay an uninsured tax of $750 a year unless the student opts for an individual insurance plan or purchases a university-sponsored plan.
"That's pretty close to the cost," Czarnecki said. "It would make more sense to pay for the insurance than pay the (tax)."
According to health economist and senior fellow for The National Center for Policy Analysis, Devon Herrick, proposals for the bill would attempt to overcharge young individuals' rates to cost-subsidize older individuals' rates. In the individual market, where many students get coverage, rates for people with pre-existing conditions, who tend to be older, would get lower premiums.
Under the existing proposals, underrides for pre-existing conditions would not be permitted while limited adjustments for age would be allowed.
"A young person - maybe 20 or 22 - would be charged half of what someone 60 years old would be charged," Herrick said. "Of course if you don't pay it, there'd be a fine … What (some Congress members) are talking about now is 2.5 percent of your income."
The figures remain speculative, Herrick said. The House passed a bill, yet, the Senate continues to work toward one consolidated bill.
"We know what (some Congress members) want to do," Herrick said. "What they want to do is have tight banding for age, no underriding for (pre-existing conditions) and have some type of individual mandate where you would be required to have coverage."
Herrick said how the individual mandate might affect students is uncertain. The policy could be implemented through an employer mandate.
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