Dear Editor:
In “Young Adults Make Gains in Health Insurance Coverage,” Kevin Sack concludes that there are “900,000 fewer uninsured adults in the 19-to-25 age bracket” due to the Affordable Care Act, which covers dependents until they turn 26. As a student with incurring debts from tuition hikes and plans for graduate school, I am grateful for the Affordable Care Act, which helps alleviate the cost burden of healthcare for a longer period of time. People may argue that others must bear the additional cost that the provision entails, but this does not take into account that young adults will no longer forgo needed care. According to the Centers for Disease Control, chronic diseases are common and costly, yet preventable. Diagnosing diseases at an earlier stage through preventative care and regular checkups will lead to greater savings in the long run by reducing costs spent on treating future chronic illnesses.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Lee
Berkeley, CA
Dear Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Affordable Care Act does alleviate preventable diseases by allowing young adults until the age of 26 to receive health insurance. In class we learned that the highest uninsured are people from ages 19-34 so this Act is addressing this issue. Being diagnosed earlier and having preventative treatment are main factors to reduce health care cost in the future, which this act provides since people under 26 still can get health insurance.
Another side to this argument is if this extension of time for young people give them a comfort zone to not search for their own health insurance. After people do turn 26, what happens then? They are fewer uninsured people from 19-25 according to the article, but what about the other 26-32 year old people? How do they get their health insurance? These are just a few questions that came to mind. Overall, this act is a great step towards addressing the large percentage of uninsured but I hope to see more that follows this act.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Nam
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWith the Affordable Care Act in full force, young adults can rest assured knowing that their health is safe until the age of 26. With another recession gripping hold of the nation, young adults would have faced the daunting task securing a job that serves adequate health insurance. Thus, many are willing and forced to settle for any type of work at the risk of their own health. If a medical emergency arises, without health insurance, young adults would be financially crippled for the rest of their lives and even worse unable to afford the procedures necessary to maintain their health.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, at the opposite end of the spectrum, young adults with pre-existing conditions would be forced to find remedial jobs that offer the best health insurance and subsequently lead to put a hold on their life dreams. With health care on everyone’s mind, we question: when has health care impeded the American Dream?
Brian Tian