Students going to class
The new healthcare bill will affect all Americans but it has the biggest affects on our students.
“Health insurers worry that if they’re forced to cover all children regardless of health condition, higher rates will result, because only the families of sick kids would apply. That problem, they say, could be largely avoided if the requirement went into effect in 2014, when most Americans will have to have coverage under the law. AHIP says higher rates resulted when New York and a handful of other states enacted “guarantee-issue” laws requiring insurers to offer coverage to all applicants.” Phil Galewitz and Andrew Villegas wrote in an article for MSNBC.com, meaning those families wtih children may not get care for 4 more years.
“Health insurers worry that if they’re forced to cover all children regardless of health condition, higher rates will result, because only the families of sick kids would apply. That problem, they say, could be largely avoided if the requirement went into effect in 2014, when most Americans will have to have coverage under the law. AHIP says higher rates resulted when New York and a handful of other states enacted “guarantee-issue” laws requiring insurers to offer coverage to all applicants.” Phil Galewitz and Andrew Villegas wrote in an article for MSNBC.com, meaning those families wtih children may not get care for 4 more years.
Young people in their early 20’s and 30’s who are starting their careers during the highest unemployment rate in 26 years may find it difficult to pay the higher costs. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour ABC’s “This Week”, “I do not believe the United States government has a right, or the authority or power, to force us to purchase health insurance any more than, in the name of homeland security, they could force every American to have to buy a gun.” Student Corey Charle’ agrees, saying “I think the government has such a hard time performing its most simple duties that there’s no way that it can maintain a system as large as the new health care bill. And just because it’s a government program it’ll eventually get too big and implode. They should just leave it lie, because it’s not their responsibility to take on something like this. It’s not their job.”
Other people aren’t sure how it will affect them. When asked how he thinks the bill will affect our country long term, American History teacher Scott McGee said, “It’s difficult to say long term. It could hurt depending on the cost added to our debt,but if it’s done right it could help. It’s up in the air.” But he’s not too concerned either saying,” No I’m not worried.As usual, people overreact to what the government does,positive or negative.”
Many people believe that students don’t really know what’s going on. When asked if he thinks students are informed, Charle’ said “NO!! All I’ve ever heard about is how this is going to affect adults.” McGee says,”I don’t think people are well informed about what the government does,people know what’s going on because of the people around them.”
Most students don’t know that they’re college career will be affected too. “The student loan overhaul fulfills a long-time goal of Democratic lawmakers to end the bankers’ role as middlemen and replace them with direct federal loans and aid to students.The new law strips banks of their ability to issue federal student loans in favor of direct government lending.” MSNBC.com posted in an article. Charle’ shared his thoughts on how he thinks the student loan section of the bill will work. “I think if the government has it’s hands on it(student loans) then it’ll complicate things, and it’ll be more trouble than it’s worth and won’t do what it’s supposed to.”
People are both anxious and nervous about how the health care bill will affect them, and many are uncertain about the what’s to come. Hopefully, students will get informed and learn about their future.
Students are the people who will be affected by the bill.
WHS Journalism I 