The new health insurance legislation, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, will allow college students to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until they are 26 years old.
With unemployment rates at nearly 15 percent in some areas and a weak job market, the plan will help college graduates who can’t find employment and cannot afford expensive health care premiums, according to Jerry Barker, director of Student Health Services.
“At the moment, a lot of insurance companies remove students once they graduate,” he said.
According to Barker, in roughly six months, students up to the age of 26 will be eligible for coverage under their parents’ insurance if the insurance provides dependent coverage.
Brittany Vliek, sophomore in criminology, said she was relieved when she found out about the new provision.
“I think it’s great because I was definitely concerned with being covered by my parents’ plan,” she said. “It’s great that it extends that far,” she said.
John Harper, junior in biological sciences, agreed.
“It provides a sense of security once I graduate,” she said. “Especially with troubles right now in getting a job.”
Though it does benefit students, Harper said it doesn’t make the bill ideal for everyone.
“There are still aspects of the bill I disagree with,” he said.
In addition to the age adjustment for dependent coverage, the bill also bans insurance companies from denying coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions, provides subsidies to those who make less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, $43,320, and mandates that almost all Americans purchase health insurance.
Next fall, students at UNC-system schools will be required to either buy the UNC-mandated health plan or show proof of coverage.
A significant percentage of college students lack health coverage. In 2006, 20 percent of college-aged young adults were uninsured, according to the Government Accountability Office.
According to Barker, about 90 percent of N.C. State students have insurance coverage.
“That 90 percent who have coverage will have to go online and provide proof with their policy name and number. The 10 percent who don’t will have to buy insurance under the plan,” he said.
Joseph Mangum, senior in criminology, said he doesn’t like the new UNC System-wide student health insurance requirement.
“I have one more semester to go. Right now, I don’t have coverage, and it puts an unnecessary burden on me,” he said.
Mangum said he made a calculated risk in not getting health coverage, due to other financial obligations.
According to Barker, this change will especially benefit graduate students, as many earn less than $42,000 per year.
“Graduate students who make less than $42,000 should be able to qualify for tax credits to purchase insurance. It definitely will help older students ,” he said.
However, Barker said the changes are still not set in stone, and the bill’s full impact cannot be determined until its full implementation in 2014.
“This still has to go through a reconciliation process. If Congress turns over in November, some of this could be repealed or changed again,” he said.
There will be a student health insurance requirement information session at noon Friday, in the Student Health Center classroom 2301.
