Spring Break
Young and uninsured
After college, many go without health care plans
Tara Bannow
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Money/Health
With an Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, dependents are not dropped until age 25, Powell said.
One plan offered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, like that of other providers, includes an office co-pay and a prescription co-pay. This means when a patient makes a medical payment, they need only pay a deductible, regardless of how many times that patient sees their doctor.
"The doctor might want to charge $150 for that visit, but you pay $35 and that's all that will cost you for the visit," Powell said.
Those who require preventative care may choose a different route. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's preventative care plan is such that if the patients do not pay for preventative checkups.
"Most younger folks don't want to get a checkup every year because they don't want to pay for it," Powell said. "But if it's not going to cost you anything, why wouldn't you go?"
Under this plan, if someone does have a health problem, they pay a previously agreed upon deductible and the company pays the rest.
Which plan a young person chooses, Powell said, depends on their health history.
"Everybody is different," he said. "Everybody has different needs to fulfill."
Eau Claire students who receive health care through the university have the option of continuing their plan for a full year after graduation, Southard said.
If a student graduates from college and is dropped from their parent's plan, Southard said, they have a couple options. They may receive it through their prospective employer as a group or they could pay for health insurance on a monthly basis until they become a part of a company that will take care of those needs for them.
Many graduates who are not covered choose not to find a plan, Southard said.
"That can put them in a financial hole they might not dig out of for years and years," he said.
Most health care products are going to be quite similar, Southard said, co-pay and 100 percent after the co-pay.
One plan offered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, like that of other providers, includes an office co-pay and a prescription co-pay. This means when a patient makes a medical payment, they need only pay a deductible, regardless of how many times that patient sees their doctor.
"The doctor might want to charge $150 for that visit, but you pay $35 and that's all that will cost you for the visit," Powell said.
Those who require preventative care may choose a different route. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's preventative care plan is such that if the patients do not pay for preventative checkups.
"Most younger folks don't want to get a checkup every year because they don't want to pay for it," Powell said. "But if it's not going to cost you anything, why wouldn't you go?"
Under this plan, if someone does have a health problem, they pay a previously agreed upon deductible and the company pays the rest.
Which plan a young person chooses, Powell said, depends on their health history.
"Everybody is different," he said. "Everybody has different needs to fulfill."
Eau Claire students who receive health care through the university have the option of continuing their plan for a full year after graduation, Southard said.
If a student graduates from college and is dropped from their parent's plan, Southard said, they have a couple options. They may receive it through their prospective employer as a group or they could pay for health insurance on a monthly basis until they become a part of a company that will take care of those needs for them.
Many graduates who are not covered choose not to find a plan, Southard said.
"That can put them in a financial hole they might not dig out of for years and years," he said.
Most health care products are going to be quite similar, Southard said, co-pay and 100 percent after the co-pay.
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