New health-plan rules a plus, possible minus for students
Drexel University junior Cindy Samanth is among the students who aren't aware of how the new Affordable Healthcare Act could affect their medical coverage.
Drexel University junior Cindy Samanth is among the students who aren't aware of how the new Affordable Healthcare Act could affect their medical coverage.
"All I know is, my dad said it's important for me to stay in school to maintain my coverage," Samanth said.
But as of Thursday, that will no longer be true.
Under the new law, young Americans will be allowed to remain on their parents' health plans until they turn 26, whether they're students or not.
New health-care terms and coverage options were outlined in "The Young Person's Guide to Health Insurance," a pamphlet distributed to students on Temple's campus at a news conference yesterday.
The conference was hosted by consumer advocacy group PennPIRG and Temple's student government. Congressmen Chaka Fattah and Majority Whip James Clyburn were in attendance, answering students' questions.
Temple Student Senate President Colin Saltry, a junior who receives coverage through his parents' plan and one of the event organizers, called the new law "huge news for college-aged students like us."
Despite some imperfections, Saltry said, "the law has more positives than negatives. I think it will help most college students."
Although many students will benefit from the additional years spent on their parents' plans, students who have plans through their schools may be in danger.
Higher-education associations, the American College Health Association and the American Council on Education said that the new law could eliminate student health plans altogether.
The two groups are concerned that there is no specific language in the law that explains whether student plans meet the law's minimum-coverage requirement.
If they don't, schools would be forced to upgrade plans offered to students. That cost may eventually force schools to drop coverage for students, the groups say.
Recent studies conducted by the Government Accountability Office show that two-thirds of college-aged students receive health care through their parents' plans.