Young adults without insurance vulnerable
Ben Waxman, 3/1/07
Harrisburg Patriot-News
Like thousands of other college students, I'm going to face the need for health care coverage when I graduate in May. Unless I find a job immediately, I will be unable to afford medical care.
Much of the debate about expanding health care for the young usually focuses on children under 18. That is to be expected. Of about one million Pennsylvanians without insurance, a shocking 130,000 are children. Everyone supports making sure that all kids are covered. However, lawmakers should not forget about college students and other young adults.
According to the U.S. Census, 72 percent of all 18- to 25-year-olds lack health insurance. Medical bills are one of the leading reasons that young people drop out of college. Juggling school, work and family without health care is simply too difficult for many students.
In addition, many jobs held by young adults have low wages and lousy benefits. A recent report from Demos Foundation found that young people face a number of serious economic challenges. The average college student graduates with more than $20,000 worth of debt. The spiraling cost of living, which includes medical expenses, makes it harder and harder for young adults to make ends meet.
This is not only bad for young people, it's bad for Pennsylvania. Our commonwealth needs a well-educated work force to attract economic investment. If Pennsylvania is to stop the so-called "brain-drain," young people need to have access to health care.
Gov. Ed Rendell has proposals that will help expand health care for young people. Under his plan, health insurance would be a requirement for enrollment at Pennsylvania colleges and universities. This will encourage school administrators and health care providers to develop affordable plans for those pursuing degrees. Full-time students already have to worry about skyrocketing tuition. We shouldn't also have to worry about being able to pay for the doctor.
This strategy is already being tested in several other states. Florida State University recently announced that health insurance would be a requirement for enrollment. It is expected that insurance companies will negotiate with school officials to develop an affordable health care plans for students.
Another part of Rendell's plan calls for an expansion of the "Cover All Kids" program. It would focus on expanding existing programs to ensure that every single child has adequate health care coverage.
This would also expand access for people of all ages, including young adults, by providing recent graduates with an option for temporary coverage after they lose their insurance. RENDELL'S HEALTH CARE reform package proposal will be broken into dozens of pieces of legislation. The package is complex and will spark major debate. Lawmakers should make sure that the provisions that will help young adults receive proper attention and approval.
Young people are not always the most effective lobbyists, but that doesn't mean we should be ignored. Health care coverage is an incredibly important issue and any reforms will have a major impact on my generation. If political leaders want to make Pennsylvania more competitive, they will address this.
BEN WAXMAN is a student at Juniata College in Huntingdon.