Almost 67 percent of all American college students are currently covered by their parents' employer-sponsored health insurance plans, according to the United States Government Accountability Office. Seven percent of students are on private plans, such as student health insurance, and a public program, such as Medicaid, covers 6 percent. This leaves 20 percent of college students who don't have health insurance at all.
As for the first 67 percent, GAO reports that many will not be covered by their parents' policies once they reach the age of 23, when insurance companies believe that the students can support themselves.
And even though a majority of students may feel as though they need not concern themselves with the problems of health insurance now, it is likely that all will be forced to face them within the next president's term. With health insurance premiums increasing at nearly three times the rate of inflation, both presidential candidates agree that the country's health insurance system needs dramatic change.
As college attendees, voters, and the next generation to be affected by changes to the health insurance system, it is important for all students to work past complex language and detailed position papers to see what both Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama propose.
According to James Bohland, Virginia Tech Health Planning professor and researcher, one difference between the two presidential nominees' plans is their targets.
"The McCain plan is more toward tweaking the private sector to try to make it more competitive, whereas the Obama plan says they'll create a national health insurance system that will stimulate competition with the private sector, but also give people an immediate option for purchasing healthcare," Bohland said.
Republican nominee John McCain's main health care proposal is to do away with the federal tax break employers get for providing their employees with health insurance coverage. McCain believes this tax break creates a bias toward employer-sponsored health coverage, which takes insurance coverage choice out of the hands of the workers.
McCain then plans to give each individual and family $2,500 or $5,000 tax credit, respectively, to be put toward the health insurance provider and plan of one's
choice.
In essence, companies would have less incentive to provide their own insurance, while workers would receive more money to purchase their own private insurance. Supporters believe this open option would theoretically drive competition among insurance providers and force the sm to lower their costs, create more varied plans as well as offer more quality services since they would be battling for insurance buyers.
In addition, people would be able to keep their insurance across jobs because it would not have to be employer-based. McCain's plan would allow people to buy health insurance from companies nationwide, with the aim of stimulating competition further.
What does McCain's plan mean for the college student? The changes to the life of an insured college student would probably be minimal, though parents may decide to change their personal coverage. For the uninsured student, it could open up more appropriate and less costly options for private plans.
The most important change for many college students could come when they get their first jobs and their own health insurance. Instead of having to pay for what their first employer provides, they could use the tax credit to buy a private plan with a different provider.
It is predicted that many young people would likely choose a provider where they could get a low premium and high-deductible plan, meaning they would not have to pay a large amount monthly or yearly, but face a greater payment when a medical situation occurs. Young adults who are less likely to face medical problems would often rather pay less money on a day-to-day basis.
Under McCain's proposal, young workers could buy insurance that would travel with them between jobs. Since the average college graduate changes jobs three times in her twenties, this portability could make life much easier for many. Bohland believes this is an important aspect of health insurance for young adults beginning their careers.
McCain's plan does have reported flaws. Even with the proposed tax credit, low-income citizens may still be unable to afford a quality health care plan. Also, if Americans in their 50s and 60s are not benefiting from the high premiums or monthly fees of young, healthy people, their own premiums may skyrocket to balance out the cost.
Deregulation is also an economic concern for many in McCain's plan.
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