THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012
HEALTH
PAGE 5
Students' health care changes
VICTORIA PITCHER
editor@kansan.com
Individual mandate, considered by some to be the "big fuss" part of President Obama's Affordable Health Care Act, was upheld June 28 in the supreme court.
Richard Levey, a University professor in constitutional law, said this means that various provisions in the law would make health insurance more available and less costly.
"It's a massive, big, big deal," Levey said.
Individual mandate requires that everybody have health insurance, and if they choose not to have insurance, they are fined. The individual mandate was passed after determining that the fine was actually a "tax," which therefore meant the federal government had the power to enact it.
As for students, the most relevant change is that they can now
stay on their parents' policies until they are 26.
Ashley Jimerson, a senior from Lawrence, is currently on her parents' policy. She said she thinks it's a good thing that the individual mandate was passed.
"Everyone should have the chance to have health care," Jimerson said. Jimerson will graduate in December at the age of 22. If she is unable to find a job with health benefits, she can stay on her parent's insurance for another four years
Another provision in the mandate will prevent insurance companies from denying people with pre-existing conditions.
Those against the mandate said the individual should have the right to choose whether to have health coverage or not.
Ryan Neuhofel, doctor and owner of NeuCare Family Medicine, 346 Main St. in Lawrence, said the health care reform, which is 1,000
pages of provisions and statues, is more about health insurance than it is about health care. Neuhofel's office does not go through third party insurance to bill patients. Neuhofel said dealing with insurance companies lowers the quality of care.
"I saw both doctors and patients were losing." Neuhofel said. About 60 to 70 percent of the patients Neuhofel treats are uninsured.
Neuhofel said doctors can build lasting relationships with patients when they don't have to worry about a patients insurance changing and no longer being covered.
Levey said the issue with the mandate was never a constitutional issue, but about the government moving toward a welfare state.
"This issue goes to heart on what kind of a society we live in," Levey said. On one side of the issue, society should take care of its individuals; on the other side, the individuals should take care of themselves.
Health Care Mandate
- Everyone is required to have health insurance
- Children can stay on their parents' insurance until they are 26
- Insurance companies cannot deny patients health insurance due to preexisting conditions.
- Medicaid is expanding to cover those whose income is 138% of the poverty level.
Source: Healthcare.gov
Parts of the mandate will not go into effect for a couple of years, however, some of it will change immediately.
—Edited by Maegan Mathiasmeier
WEATHER
Dock collapses after storm
WARSAW, Mo. — Authorities say five people unaccounted for after a dock collapsed at a Missouri lake have been found safely.
Sgt. Collin Stosberg of the Missouri State Highway Patrol says a thunderstorm moved through the Sterett Creek Resort and Marina on Truman Lake in west-central Missouri when the dock gave way around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The marina is near Warsaw, about 90 miles southeast of Kansas City.
Those unaccounted for included four fishermen. Stosberg says no injuries have been reported.
A number of boats were damaged.
Marina staff didn't return phone or email messages from The Associated Press.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ODD NEWS
Underdog claims international cherry pit spitting title
EAU CLAIRE, Mich. — Ronn Matt's wife encouraged him to enter the annual International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship in southwestern Michigan on Saturday.
It's a good thing she did.
The 46-year-old Chicagoan pulled a big upset, winning the contest in his initial try and becoming the first champion not named Krause or Lessard in 20 years.
Matt spit a pit 69 feet at Tree-
Mendus Fruit Farm near Eau Claire,
just north of the Indiana border.
Owner Herb Teichman launched the tournament on a lark nearly four decades ago. It now attracts competitors from the U.S. and beyond, and has six divisions including dignitaries.
Since 1992, members of the Krause and Lessard families have dominated the event.
Brian "Young Gun" Krause of Dimondale holds the world-record spit more than 93 feet and had won the past two years. But the 34-year-old finished fifth
Saturday with a spit of 52 feet,10 inches.
Krause's father, Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause, came in second with a spit of 61 feet, 2 inches. And Brian Krause's brother, Matt, earned a third-place finish with his 60-foot, 11-inch spit.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The tournament typically is timed to the start of the cherry harvest, but competition spokeswoman Lynne Sage said that due to an unusually warm spring, it's already complete. Saturday's installment was held in sweltering temperatures.
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
HOW ARE YOU INVESTING YOUR BUY-OUT?
Enjoy the freedom and rewards of owning your own business!
Complete training & Inspector Certification
DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY! Call Ron Rusch at 816-699-4100
buyer's choice HOME INSPECTIONS
www.abuyerschoice.com
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER
The University of Kansas University Theatre Kansas Summer Theatre 2012 presents a Jewel Box production of the hit Broadway musical
by Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe adapted from George Bernard Shaw's comedy, Pygmalion
7:30 p.m. July 12,13,14,19,20,21,2012 2:30 p.m. Sundays,July 15 & 22,2012 Crafton-Preyer Theatre,Murphy Hall
Reserved seat tickets are on sale in the University Theatre Ticket Office, 785/864-3982, and online at www.kutheatre.com. The ticket office is open from noon - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and one hour before curtain time. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens, and $10 for KU and K-12 students.
Bring the Family and save $10
2 adults + 2 children = only $40
STUDENT SENATE KU UNIVERSITY THEATRE The University of Texas
KU CREDIT UNION
A PARTNER OF BUFFERED CREDIT UNIONS
---