The new Affordable Care Act has positive impact on insurance for college students and recent graduates.
When asked what she knows about the Afordable Care Act, sophomore Nursing student Darlene Narca stated, “While I’m not sure about the exact details concerning the act, from what I’ve heard stated by others who are currently working in the health care field there is worry that this new act will bring an influx of patients making it extremely hard for providers to give excellent one on one care to each individual.”
Dr. Matthew Costello, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science here at Saint Xavier University, explains that the Affordable Care Act was enacted by the government in an attempt to not only make health insurance universally available in the United States, but to also contain the cost of health care.
There are three key ways that this act looks to do so, and they are: 1.) An expansion on Medicade eligibility to ensure that the poor are provided with health insurance; 2.) Health insurers are required to provide insurance regardless of an individual’s medical history or pre-existing conditions, although insurers can charge whatever they want; and, 3.) The creation of state or federal “health insurance exchanges” should provide cost containment by allowing consumers to compare competing programs and offers.
The enactment of this act will not have an affect on those citizens who are provided insurance through their employment; however, those who are uninsured will now not only have more opportunities to obtain insurance but will also be faced with a fine if they do not.
When asked about the benefits of this act Dr. Costello stated that, “The benefits of this act include affordable accessible health insurance for millions of people who have not been able to get insurance. This increases their security and overall quality of life. College students have a specific benefit, which is that they are no able to remain on their parent’s insurance until the age of 26.”
A reason for this may be because college students and those in their twenties are often healthy and low cost insurable.
So for those Saint Xavier students who are getting ready to graduate soon and are already freaking out about entering the work force, paying student loans, etc. insurance is one less thing that they have to worry about.
While there are some obvious benefits to this act, there are still arguments out there against it. Dr. Costello explains that many conservatives view this as the bureaucratization of health care insurance where the government will take over medical decisions that are made by yourself or your doctor.
Another problem that has been blatantly mentioned in the media is the glitches that were seen on the government website that has only recently begun to run.
According to Dr. Costello it is also important to note that this act is in no way limiting what is charged by providers or insurers for insurance.
In fact, health care in the United States is still a privilege of the wealthy instead of a right of citizenship. Dr. Costello expanded on this whe he said, “health care is still provided as private commodity in a profit-driven market place.”
There are obvious benefits for young adults in there twenties as well as those citizens who were previously uninsured, but along with these benefits there are still arguments against this act.
For more information regarding the act, how it may affect you, different coverage plans, people can go to:
https://www.healthcare.gov/.
Catlyn Hicks
Senior News Editor
About Post Author
