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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
HEALTHCARE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
'Obamacare'offers students affordable health insurance
JOSE MEDRANO
jmedrano@kansan.com
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Under the Affordable Care Act, students can now remain on their parents' health insurance plans until they turn 26.
The Affordable Care Act's marketplace began its enrollment period on Tuesday aiming to insure millions of Americans who lack health insurance, but how exactly does the healthcare marketplace and the ACA affect college students?
Why students should care
The average emergency room visit can cripple the budget of any uninsured student with bills for an ambulance, X-rays, medical procedures and supplies totaling several thousand dollars. Under the ACA, after March 31, 2014, everyone is required to have health insurance.
To most students, healthcare is something that doesn't cross one's mind until a visit to the emergency room is necessary.
Myers, like many other college students, is covered under his parents' health insurance plan. But according to a report by the American Community Survey performed by the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated one in four young adults, ages 18-25, were uninsured in Kansas. A Kaiser Family Foundation health tracking poll published in June found that 45 percent of young adults nationwide had not heard about the healthcare marketplace even though 88 percent stated that they needed insurance.
"It's good to have health insurance, but I don't like how it's being forced onto people," Preston Myers, a junior from Liberal, said.
"This notion of invincibility that we're young and don't need it is a calculated risk," said Jarron Saint Onge, assistant professor of sociology and health policy.
"What you find is that there are few jobs that are offering comprehensive healthcare benefits," Saint Onge said. "Especially in initial jobs found right out of college, and I think that this is an opportunity to purchase health care."
What if I already have coverage?
What if it already have coverage?
Due to a rule of the ACA implemented in September of 2010, students who receive their health care from their parents will be able to stay under their parent's health care plan until they are 26.
Students who already have health care from their parents, work place or have an insurance provider do not have to worry about getting a new plan, unless their parents or work place health care provider has opted out and requires them to buy health insurance.
Before the rule was established, insurance companies would typically remove young adults from their parents' coverage after they graduate from college. If a student is already under a plan provided by
Marketplace premiums are based on age, location, income levels and other factors, and are available indifferent tiers of coverage and prices. For example a 21-year-old female who has an income of $15,000 a year and has no dependents may have to pay $1,969 for coverage, with a subside she may be required to only pay $949 of the total cost. The enrollment period will remain open until March 31, 2014 and health care providers may start covering people as early as Jan. 1, 2014.
"The reality of the way the ACA is formatted is that it has to have that healthy young population to balance the older generation."
"The challenge is that you have students who are on their parents insurance, and you also have working class students and those who need it," Saint Onge said. "It's a good option for everyone, but those who need it should take advantage of it."
JARRON SAINT ONGE
Assistant professor of sociology
How the ACA works
"The reality of the way the ACA is formated is that it has to have that healthy young population
"If you ask students if they need healthcare they'll say yes and they'll understand the value of it, but the general population won't be taking advantage of the marketplace", Saint Onge stated concerning student knowledge and involvement with the health care system.
to balance the older generation",
Saint Ongue said. "You have to have healthy people to pay and balance out the older sicker people."
KU Student Health Services also provides health insurance through UnitedHealthcare with annual student rates beginning at $1,285. More information concerning the UnitedHealthcare plans can be found at uhcsr.com/ku.
It is also necessary for young adults to enroll in the in order to make the ACA work successfully.
"What the ACA really offers is that it provides insurance for people who have pre-existing conditions," Saint Onge said. "In the past when you had a pre-existing condition it was rather hard to find health insurance."
tions can no longer be denied or rejected due to the ACA as well as people who become ill while being insured.
Students who are uninsured and want to view the options that are available can apply online at healthcare.gov. The application process requires that users make an account, apply and fill out a questionnaire. People can compare different plans and rates available by healthcare providers. The
People with pre-existing condi-
What if I don't buv insurance?
ACA's marketplace has suffered a myriad of problems including overloads, traffic and glitches in its initial days, so be prepared to wait.
According to healthcare.gov people who choose to remain uninsured in 2014 will have to pay a $95 fee or 1 percent of their income, whichever is higher. This fine comes out of an individual's tax refund and is not charged directly toward an individual in the form of a payment. The fee will be raised to $695 or 2.5 percent of an individual's income in 2016. The fee does not mean that someone is insured or has health insurance because they are paying the fine and will have to pay out of pocket for their medical expenses.
Once the open enrollment period closes in March the next period for enrollment won't be open until Oct. 7,2014.More information about enrolling and how the marketplace works can be found at healthcare.gov, by calling (800) 318-2596 or by contacting a local health care agency.
— Edited by Jessica Mitchell
CAMPUS
KUMUN prepares for NASCAR fundraiser
MCKENNA HARFORD
mharford@kansan.com
This weekend, in most students are sleeping in, a group of dedicated KU Model United Nations members will be preparing for a 12-hour day that starts at 5 a.m. The KUMMU members are selling concessions at NASCAR this year, one of their biggest fundraisers, after deciding not to do so the past two years.
KUMUN is an organization that aims to help give students the real experience in diplomacy, negotiation, speaking and international politics, as well as insight into how the United Nations works through a series of both Model UN conferences. The NASCAR fundraiser is the primary way that the organization gets the money to send members to both the Southern Regional and the Boston Conferences during the spring.
KUMUN hopes that this fundraiser will bring in around $3,000 after fees. Other funding will come from hosting a high school conference, cleaning Allen Fieldhouse, and recycling at the football games.
"NASCAR is kind of like a hardship because it's freezing, you're working from five to seven that day, and you're together," KUMUN Fundraising Chair Megan Kincaid-Held said. "It sounds weird, but the hardship of NASCAR really bonds us as a group. Committee does too, but at the fundraising events is another chance for us to bond. And when you work well as a team, especially in pairs, then at conference you do way better."
"Our most successful run thus far has been $2,500, but we are shooting for more because we have enough people to split between the stand and floaters who go and help other people." Kincad-Heidel said. "And we have people who can serve alcohol now, so hopefully calls can go up from that."
The money raised will go toward covering travel costs for the members who will participate in
conferences. Depending on how much they bring in, they will decide how many members get to go to each conference.
Conferences are a simulation of real UN proceedings, so the club aims to train members how to think and act like a delegate representing a country.
"Because you are participating in a simulation, you learn research skills, public speaking and collaboration," Joey Hentzler said, president of KUMUN. "It gets you out of your comfort zone. You also learn tolerance and understanding."
In order to prepare for conferences, the club holds informational meetings, which teach basic procedures of the MUN conferences, discuss hot topics and research world affairs. The meetings also allow members to practice speaking and writing skills.
According to Hentzler, the goal of the club is to help train members to have more of a global mindset about issues.
"I'm an idealist, but I hope that [members] recognize what it means to be a global citizen," Hentzler said.
"It's about learning to make yourself think differently about the world."
This global focus of the club has allowed it to grow. This year KUMUN has seen an increase in member size from five members to over 40.
"It's a good way for me to improve my speaking skills, it looks good on a resume, and it helps me get involved," freshman member Rogelio Peschard said.
Currently the club is trying to expand by working with different departments, including history and global studies, to offer a Model UN class. The class would likely fulfill a Core requirement and be offered as soon as next fall.
"Obviously, I want the club to grow in numbers, but I also want it to grow in structure and institution," Henzler said. "I want it to allow voices to be heard."
Edited by Sarah Kramer
JAYHAWKS AROUND THE WORLD 2013 HOMECOMING
Friday, Oct. 4
Pancakes ($5 per person)
Passport: Jayhawks Around Campus
Late Night in the Phog
Saturday, Oct. 5 Ex.C.E.L. Award Presentation KU vs. Texas Tech football game Ex.C.E.L. and Homecoming Awards
Alumni Center Parking Lot
KU Campus
Allen Fieldhouse
9 a.m. - Noon
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
11 a.m.
halftime presentation
Alumni Center Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium
Visit www.homecoming.ku.edu for schedule updates.
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WHERE FASHION ATTRACTS GOOD FORTUNE
www.fortuityusa.com
Eternal Focus www.eternalfocusphotography
809 Maschushettes, lawrence, KS
(785) 331-4449
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