What new healthcare bill means for students

Jennifer Travis

The Signal

President Barack Obama passed the Healthcare Reform Bill March 23, which offers extended coverage for students under the age of 26 through their parents’ existing coverage.

The law will take more than four years to become effective. That is if, in fact, it does go into effect. The partisan debate is far from over.

In the wake of the new legislation, students are wondering where this leaves them. The Gallup poll states that Texas has the highest percentage, at 26.9 percent of people without health insurance in the country.

At the age of 26, everyone, including students, will be required to purchase coverage either through a private company or the government, or face a penalty.

“It’s going to impact the students immensely,” said Susan Leitner Prihoda, director of health and disability services and family nurse practitioner at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. “More than half of our students do not have health insurance. They can’t afford it. They have pre-existing conditions. They are too old to be on their parents’ [insurance]. It will only help them.”

Prihoda said there will be no change in the foreseeable future for the current student health insurance plan. The current plan is already signed and will be in effect through 2011.

“This bill is excellent for students because they will be able to remain on their parents’ insurance until 26 or can get insurance at a reduced rate,” said Joseph Madden, a representative for state Rep. Garnet F. Coleman. “College students with children will especially benefit. Overall this bill will take America a whole lot further then where we are.”

Texas Republican leaders are debating the effectiveness of the bill, describing parts of it as unconstitutional. Thirteen attorney generals from various states have filed lawsuits against the federal government, including Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Abbott filed suit challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“The federal health care legislation signed today violates the United States Constitution and unconstitutionally infringes upon Texans’ individual liberties,” Abbott said in a March 23 press release=. “No public policy goal – no matter how important or well-intentioned – can be allowed to trample the protections and rights guaranteed by our Constitution.

“To protect all Texans’ constitutional rights, preserve the constitutional framework intended by our nation’s founders, and defend our state from further infringement by the federal government, the State of Texas and other states have filed a legal challenge seeking judgment from the courts that the federal health care take over is unconstitutional.”

In response to Abbott’s suit, several Texas democratic leaders sent a letter disagreeing with his actions.

“A thorough reading of case law does not support your assertion,” the letter reads. “Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have time and again given Congress broad authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate commerce and impose taxes.”

The letter is signed by Democratic Representatives Garnet F. Coleman, Martinez Fischer, Jessica Farrar and Sylvester Turner and Senators Eliot Shapleigh, Rodney Ellis and Leticia Van De Putte.

Madden said that the Republican plan to postpone this bill is “clearly a political objective and waste of tax payers’ money.”

“While we are disappointed with the outcome of the vote on Sunday night, are determined to continue to take our case against this government takeover of health care to the American people,” said U.S.  Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, at a House GOP leadership press conference. “The American people oppose a government takeover of health care. They oppose the job-killing tax increases, individual mandates, public funding of abortion and the creation of incentives in system that will result in millions of Americans losing the health insurance that they have.”

The plan, designed to help millions of Americans gain affordable health coverage, includes several controversial issues including abortion, coverage extending to illegal immigrants, possible penalty for non-insured citizens and the ability to keep one’s own doctor.

“They will see that if Americans like their doctor, they will keep their doctor,” Obama said, in a speech given at the University of Iowa. “If you like your plan, you will keep your plan. No one will be able to take that away from you.”

Controversial Issues:

• Abortion – Bill does not allow federal funds to pay for elective abortions covered by private insurance.
• Personal Physician – Patients can keep their own doctors with PPO plans.
• Penalty for non-insured citizens – There is an exemption for low-income citizens. The penalty will take effect in 2014.
• Coverage for Illegal Immigrants – The bill does not block immigrants from coverage, but does not guarantee it either.