2008 Woodie Awards
Students Without Healthcare: Big Risk, Low Reward
Dina Sciortino
Issue date: 3/15/05 Section: News
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Sexually transmitted diseases, the flu, and infections are some health risks that are common amongst young adults. However, an astonishing 50 percent of 18 to 30-year olds are without health insurance, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).
Most young adults stop receiving health insurance because they become too old to be included on their parents' insurance policy. Mercy College graduate, Pamela Cohen, stopped receiving health insurance because she became too old to be covered under her father's health insurance policy. In her last semester, Cohen fell ill, and needed to be hospitalized. She missed a few classes, and was behind on her assignments. Yet this wasn't the worst of her problems, she said, it was that she owed $35,000 in medical bills to doctors and hospitals. Most young adults who do receive health insurance have it because they are a full-time student and are covered under their parents' insurance policy. As these young adults get older and finish school, they become ineligible to receive insurance under their parents' policies.
Another factor that affects the lack of health insurance amongst young adults is that some entry level jobs do not provide health insurance. With an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent, some young adults are happy with any job they can get, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's website (www.bls.gov). Lots of these jobs are temporary positions, which don't provide benefits.
Another portion of young adults without health insurance come from low income households. The family does not generate enough money to afford private insurance, leaving young adults and children at risk. These households are also more likely to be employed by those who don't provide their employees with health insurance, according to the World Socialist's website (www.wsws.org).
Since 50 percent of young adults are without health insurance, how does this affect the daily life of a young adult? Cohen stated that she "can't go to the doctor's office" when she's isn't feeling well or desire's a check up.
Most young adults stop receiving health insurance because they become too old to be included on their parents' insurance policy. Mercy College graduate, Pamela Cohen, stopped receiving health insurance because she became too old to be covered under her father's health insurance policy. In her last semester, Cohen fell ill, and needed to be hospitalized. She missed a few classes, and was behind on her assignments. Yet this wasn't the worst of her problems, she said, it was that she owed $35,000 in medical bills to doctors and hospitals. Most young adults who do receive health insurance have it because they are a full-time student and are covered under their parents' insurance policy. As these young adults get older and finish school, they become ineligible to receive insurance under their parents' policies.
Another factor that affects the lack of health insurance amongst young adults is that some entry level jobs do not provide health insurance. With an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent, some young adults are happy with any job they can get, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's website (www.bls.gov). Lots of these jobs are temporary positions, which don't provide benefits.
Another portion of young adults without health insurance come from low income households. The family does not generate enough money to afford private insurance, leaving young adults and children at risk. These households are also more likely to be employed by those who don't provide their employees with health insurance, according to the World Socialist's website (www.wsws.org).
Since 50 percent of young adults are without health insurance, how does this affect the daily life of a young adult? Cohen stated that she "can't go to the doctor's office" when she's isn't feeling well or desire's a check up.
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