Number of young adults without health insurance is rising

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10295852

Published Saturday | March 29, 2008
Number of young adults without health insurance is rising
BY MICHAEL O'CONNOR
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Six years ago, Evelyn Reinthaler's face smacked against the windshield of her Geo Prism during an Interstate collision. The accident sent her to the hospital, where she racked up an $18,000 bill.


Omahan Evelyn Reinthaler, who was injured in a car accident when she was 19 and lacked health insurance, still can't afford insurance at 25.


This winter she broke into tears when she was hit with a $100 bill for flu medication.

The 25-year-old Omahan, a part-time student, is among the more than 13 million young adults nationally who lack health insurance.

Even though older Americans often are the focus of concerns about health care costs, people ages 19 to 29 are one of the fastest-growing groups without insurance, according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund.

The count of young adults lacking insurance grew by 800,000, or 6 percent, from 2004 to 2006, hitting 13.7 million.

Those in that age group sometimes decline health insurance offered by their employer because they're young and healthy, have student and car loans, and don't see it as a priority.

FULL story at link.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. This is why we need a single payer system funded through taxes.

Everyone would be automatically covered and no one would have to choose between paying bills or health insurance.

And no, a mandate to buy health insurance is not the same thing.

[IowaGirl]

2. The health care system also discourages some young people from getting married by discontinuing.....

their eligibility for the parents' health insurance if they get married whereas they could stay eligible until 25 if they stayed single.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. They usually have to be in college full-time to stay on parents' plans.

Which is unfair to working class young people, who often don't go to college.

[IowaGirl]

8. That's true about having to be in college but most companies will cut them lose if they get married

even if they are still in college as well as their spouse so neither have coverage from their job.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I have two kids in their 20s and neither one has health insurance

One is unemployed and the other has a job that doesn't offer health insurance.

I worry nearly every day about what they will do if they get sick or injured.

[HockeyMom]

4. New College Graduates

My daughter graduated college in May. She did not get hired for her teaching position until one week after school started in September. Since we could no longer cover her under our insurance, she was without coverage until her job started.

It seems this can be a major problem for young graduates.

[PA Democrat]

7. It really is. Even if you can afford one of those short-term type policies they are a joke in that

they cover no preexisting conditions and will try to prove that any claim filed is for a preexisting condition. I feel for young people today.

[Codedonkey]

5. I've always put off getting health insurance....

Pretty much always had a chance to get it, but never once enrolled... I guess that makes me stupid...

I'm changing jobs though and will probably enroll this time since it's only like $9.50 a check... ehnn.. but then again, I could use that $9 for beer...

[IowaGirl]

9. Beer which can damage your liver and make you need health insurance.

[Codedonkey]

14. Drink a Beer - You Die!

kind of like pot... :P

[Clear Blue Sky]

10. She chose poorly...

"Those in that age group sometimes decline health insurance offered by their employer because they're young and healthy, have student and car loans, and don't see it as a priority."

[Lars39]

11. What's not mentioned is that you can have insurance,

and still face huge medical bills.

[fizzgig]

12. i was without health insurance for a couple of years after college

i had a hard time finding a job and the job i had didn't offer insurance. how, at nearly 27, i am again without insurance after losing my job earlier this month.

i was lucky before because i only got sick once and it didn't cost me much to go to the doc.

now what scares me most is that i'll be denied coverage when i get a new job because i'm bipolar and i'm terrified it'll be considered a pre-existing condition. i'm also scared about being able to get my meds until i get a new job

[L. Coyote]

13. I've never had health insurance. I've saved a ton of money in the last 40 years.

I admit, I've spent, on average, over $100 a year on medical, $50 on dental, and $300 on drink.
If I buy health insurance, I'll have to give up the booze!