2008 Woodie Awards
Almost 2 million lack health insurance
One in five young college students are uninsured, according to report
Audrey Barker
Issue date: 6/2/08 Section: News
There were 1.7 million college students in the United States between the ages of 18 and 23 uninsured in 2006, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Ryan Smith, De Anza political science major and army veteran, is uninsured. Smith has been out of the army for more than two years, and said he hasn't been to the doctor very often.
"When I got out of the army, they told me I was eligible for the use of the veteran affairs hospital, but there are certain priority levels," Smith said. "I am a low priority because I am in good medical shape."
According to the report, part-time, non-white, lower-income students were among the most likely to be uninsured. 20 percent of all college students surveyed were uninsured; the other 80 percent, 6.8 million college students, were insured.
"I have worked at De Anza for 10 years and the number one question students always have is regarding health insurance," said Lisa Sanford, health services assistant at De Anza College.
De Anza College offers no health insurance benefits to domestic students, said Sanford. De Anza doesn't have a group insurance program because plans such as this require a large amount of people to be succesful, Sanford said.
The University of California and California State University systems offer student insurance programs. Many four-year universities have medical centers, making it easier to take care of students within the campus health offices.
"De Anza would need to hire at least one more full-time person just to administer these services," Sanford said, which is not "financially feasible."
Currently, health services costs are covered by each student's health services tuition fee.
However De Anza College requires that international students have health insurance. The policy is provided through scholastic insurance services at De Anza, and uses a participating provider option through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Participating providers allow students to choose any doctor, any hospital, at any time, but offer financial rewards for choosing providers within the Blue Cross network.
"We have to pay $390 per quarter on top of our high tuition," said Phyllis Wong, an international student from Hong Kong, "It's ridiculous, and on top of that, we have to go through the Health Services Office before going to the doctor or else international students incur a co-pay. Many people in my family have said I would be better off with private insurance."
The report also indicated that 67 percent of college students surveyed receive medical benefits through an employer based program, while 7 percent receive benefits privately.
According to the American College Health Association, 71 percent of four-year, private non-profit universities offer insurance to students. Furthermore, 82 percent of four-year public universities and 29 percent of two-year public universities offer insurance.
The accountability office's report said 30 percent of colleges across the country now require all students to have health insurance, including the UC system.
Ryan Smith, De Anza political science major and army veteran, is uninsured. Smith has been out of the army for more than two years, and said he hasn't been to the doctor very often.
"When I got out of the army, they told me I was eligible for the use of the veteran affairs hospital, but there are certain priority levels," Smith said. "I am a low priority because I am in good medical shape."
According to the report, part-time, non-white, lower-income students were among the most likely to be uninsured. 20 percent of all college students surveyed were uninsured; the other 80 percent, 6.8 million college students, were insured.
"I have worked at De Anza for 10 years and the number one question students always have is regarding health insurance," said Lisa Sanford, health services assistant at De Anza College.
De Anza College offers no health insurance benefits to domestic students, said Sanford. De Anza doesn't have a group insurance program because plans such as this require a large amount of people to be succesful, Sanford said.
The University of California and California State University systems offer student insurance programs. Many four-year universities have medical centers, making it easier to take care of students within the campus health offices.
"De Anza would need to hire at least one more full-time person just to administer these services," Sanford said, which is not "financially feasible."
Currently, health services costs are covered by each student's health services tuition fee.
However De Anza College requires that international students have health insurance. The policy is provided through scholastic insurance services at De Anza, and uses a participating provider option through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Participating providers allow students to choose any doctor, any hospital, at any time, but offer financial rewards for choosing providers within the Blue Cross network.
"We have to pay $390 per quarter on top of our high tuition," said Phyllis Wong, an international student from Hong Kong, "It's ridiculous, and on top of that, we have to go through the Health Services Office before going to the doctor or else international students incur a co-pay. Many people in my family have said I would be better off with private insurance."
The report also indicated that 67 percent of college students surveyed receive medical benefits through an employer based program, while 7 percent receive benefits privately.
According to the American College Health Association, 71 percent of four-year, private non-profit universities offer insurance to students. Furthermore, 82 percent of four-year public universities and 29 percent of two-year public universities offer insurance.
The accountability office's report said 30 percent of colleges across the country now require all students to have health insurance, including the UC system.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Health insurance
posted 9/12/08 @ 11:13 AM PST
There is a logical explanations to this, most of those students don't afford any health insurance and this is pretty bad. If they don't have a health insurance it doesn't mean they don't want it so I think they need flexible options based on their real necessities and their real financial limits. (Continued…)
Cheap insurance
posted 9/22/08 @ 8:08 AM PST
I wonder why is that, this number is huge and we are talking about students here, they need health and social support. Does the government realize how serious this is? Most students don't have their own income and that makes the vulnerable. (Continued…)
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