Spring Break
Young and uninsured
After college, many go without health care plans
Tara Bannow
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Money/Health
Southard said he gets calls asking about the health program every month from students who cannot be covered because they have a pre-existing condition.
Under UW-Eau Claire's Student Health Care Program, the pre-existing clause is such that any accident or condition existing prior to the student's enrollment in the university's health program will not be covered for one full year until it is either covered or waived, which, Southard said, is already too late. After 12 months of continuous coverage, he said, then it's covered, assuming the student has the health insurance.
"If they don't spend the money and buy the coverage," he said, "It's still not going to be covered."
Senior Katie Prill said she is currently covered under her parent's plan and will be dropped in December. Luckily, she will graduate in May and will be employed in September by a company that offers health care benefits.
Prill said she thinks students don't buy health insurance plans because they don't have any money.
Unfortunately, Powell said, the price of insurance is always going up.
"It costs most to run a hospital; doctors want to get paid more; everyone in the industry wants to get paid more," he said. "Inflation. That's it in a nutshell."
Under UW-Eau Claire's Student Health Care Program, the pre-existing clause is such that any accident or condition existing prior to the student's enrollment in the university's health program will not be covered for one full year until it is either covered or waived, which, Southard said, is already too late. After 12 months of continuous coverage, he said, then it's covered, assuming the student has the health insurance.
"If they don't spend the money and buy the coverage," he said, "It's still not going to be covered."
Senior Katie Prill said she is currently covered under her parent's plan and will be dropped in December. Luckily, she will graduate in May and will be employed in September by a company that offers health care benefits.
Prill said she thinks students don't buy health insurance plans because they don't have any money.
Unfortunately, Powell said, the price of insurance is always going up.
"It costs most to run a hospital; doctors want to get paid more; everyone in the industry wants to get paid more," he said. "Inflation. That's it in a nutshell."
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