Many young adults opt to go without health insurance : Erin E. O誰eill
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-08-21 16:46:10 | Word Count: 747
Health care reform is a hot topic these days, spurring some heated debates in big cities and small towns across the country.
Some estimates claim that as many as 46 million Americans are without health insurance.
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Nearly 1.5 million of those are Ohioans, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance.
But some debate has been raised over whether or not this estimate is based on those in need or includes those who opt not to pay into some kind of program.
According to a study by the State Coverage Initiative team (SCI), half of Ohio's uninsured are between the ages of 18 and 40.
Kim Nelson, 21, is a senior at Marietta College and is currently covered by her parents' policy. But she is already researching ways to afford a health care plan, including dental and vision, once she graduates in May.
"Not having health insurance after I graduate is scary to think about," she said.
But she admits she knows many students who would prefer not to have the added expense.
"We have a lot of expenses and a lot of my friends think that they're healthy, they'd rather have the money for a car payment or something like that," Nelson said.
Students at Marietta College, like other schools around the state, are required to have some sort of health insurance plan.
"Students have to have health insurance," said Tom Perry, director of college relations. "If they aren't covered by their parents' plan, the school offers coverage for less than $200."
Some students, like athletes, even double their coverage by having both, according to Perry.
For many young adults, the thought of getting some terrible illness or being injured in an accident is something that rarely crosses their minds.
"I don't get sick very often," said Nelson, explaining that she will probably opt for a plan with very basic medical coverage.
And when a student is covered by a parent's plan, there is often no reason for the student to educate themselves about their medical expenses.
But health care regulations are always changing. Under Ohio's newly enacted budget, new requirements for insurance companies and businesses could help more than 100,000 now uninsured adults obtain coverage, according to the Department of Insurance.
One of these requirements includes a change in the ages of the children covered under the parent's plan.
Insurers, health insurance corporations and public employee benefit plans must offer parents with employer-sponsored health insurance the opportunity to purchase coverage for their children up to age 28. The prior cut-off age was 25.
The reason for the change, according to the department, is that younger adults have one of the highest uninsured rates, because they are just entering the job market and insurance is either unavailable or unaffordable. Offering this option can provide coverage to this group at no cost to an employer, and can serve as a transition to subsequent coverage.
Once the cut-off age is reached, however, there are a few affordable options for young adults who are entering the workforce, including short-term plans that can be paid for until the employee health plan kicks in.
"I would recommend they start with a budget and go from there," said Leeann Jurado, owner and agent with Jurado Insurance Agency in Marietta.
Navigating through the maze of health care options can be confusing, and Jurado advises sitting down to talk with a professional.
"You need to be educated enough to look at different plans and figure out which one is right for you," she said.
For students at Marietta College who are going out into the real world, Nelson thinks higher education should go one step further.
"I think it would be great if the school would offer something for students - a session on life skills - for when we have to make decisions like these," she said.
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