April 5, 2010

www.theAccent.org News | page 5

Health care reform 101

Controversial health care bill to affect students
Karissa Rodriguez
Design Intern
Last time 23-year-old
psychology major Keegan Frick
was sick, she avoided going to
the doctor because she doesn’t
have health insurance.
In the end, Frick waited
so long to seek help that she
developed pneumonia and
needed to go to the emergency
room. She fully recovered but
is still trying to pay off nearly
$1,000 in medical bills.
“I don’t have health
insurance because I work
as a waitress, so I can’t get it
through my employer,” Frick
said. “I am also not able to use
my parent’s insurance because
she cannot afford the premium
costs to add me.”
Students like Frick will
Care Act that was signed into
law as part of the Health Care
and Education Reconciliation
Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872) by
President Barack Obama on
March 23.
How it affects students
“The most immediate effect
for students will be that they
can stay insured under their
parents’ insurance until they
are 26 years old,” Rep. Lloyd
Doggett, D-Austin, said.
Doggett voted yes on the bill
and represents District 25 in
which part of the ACC District
is located.
According to the bill, H.R.
4872, this measure will take
effect six months from now in
Oct.
Currently, young adults
residing in Texas have been
eligible to remain on their
Texas House Bill 1446.
Students who are not
eligible for their parents’
insurance will be able to sign
up for insurance through state-
run health care “exchanges”
starting in 2014.
Exchanges will provide the
uninsured with an insurance
marketplace where they can
choose from different levels of
insurance coverage, according
to a report from the Kaiser
Family Foundation.
Those who are insured
through employers or have
private insurance are welcome
to sign up for an insurance
plan from the exchange if they
choose to.
Subsidies will be available
in the form of tax credits for
individuals making up to
four times the federal poverty
level, which is $43,320 for a
The credits will vary based on
income and premiums costs.
Another option that will be
available to the uninsured is the
choice to enroll in Medicaid, a
U.S. health insurance program
that provides care to qualifying
people who cannot pay for
their own medical expenses.
Starting in 2014, anyone
with an income below 133
percent of the poverty level —
or about $29,327 in 2009 for a
family of four — will be eligible
for a rejuvenated Medicaid
program, according to the New
York Times.
Controversy behind the bill
Democrats and Republicans
have been at odds over this bill
because of a specific mandate
that makes it mandatory for all
U.S. citizens to have some form
of health insurance.
from 14 states, including Texas
Attorney General Greg Abbott,
R-Texas, are suing the federal
government over the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care
Act, according to the New York
Times.
A March 23 press
release from Abbott’s office
explains that “the new law
infringes upon Americans’
constitutionally protected
individual liberties; encroaches
upon the states’ constitutionally
guaranteed sovereignty;
forces states to spend
billions of additional dollars
on entitlement programs;
imposes an unconstitutional
tax; and violates the Tenth
Amendment of the United
States Constitution.”
The Democratic Policy
Committee has rebutted that
the mandate is constitutional
Congress the power to enact
the Individual Responsibility
Policy.”
Health care responsibilities
Due to the passing of the
health care reform bill, average
students like Frick may receive
additional help when it comes
to paying for costly medical
bills.
In the future however,
students will need to determine
how they will pay for their
health insurance they choose to
enroll in as it will be mandatory
in 2014.
Students and all who
are uninsured will initially
pay a penalty for not having
insurance. The penalty will
be phased in, starting at $95
or one percent of income in
2014, whichever is higher, and
rising to $695 or 2.5 percent of

*
benefit from the new Patient parent’s insurance up to their single person, according to The mandate is stated in because “Article I, Section 8 income in 2016, according to
Protection and Affordable 25th birthday, according to an Associated Press report. H.R. 4872. Attorney Generals of the Constitution Grants the New York Times.

Guide to Health Care Changes If you keep your current plan...

Many provisions have been enacted to reform the current health insurance
market. Key changes include the following:
Austin Community College Private or employee insurance
students vary in age. Accord- • Health insurance companies may not impose any preexisting condition
exclusion. - H.R. 3590, Subtitle C, Subpart I, Section 2704
ing to 12th Day data from • Health insurance also may not establish rules for eligibility of any
Fall 2009, students 18-30 individual to enroll under the terms of the plan or coverage based on any
health status-related factors in relation to the individual or dependent of
years old made up 69.84 the individual. - H.R. 3950, Subtitle C, Subpart I, Section 2705
percent of enrollment. 22.52
percent of students were 31 Medicare
• Those enrolled will not lose benefits, they will expand to allow
years or older. No matter Do you have Medicare to pay for annual check ups. Those enrolled in Medicare
insurance? Advantage may face paying higher premiums or lose some benefits. -
what your age, the Health- Info found throughout H.R. 3950
care Reform Bill affects you.
This chart will help guide Medicaid
• Adults enrolled can keep their current benefits until 2014 and
you to make an informed children until 2019. Eligible adults and children will be able to sign up
for the revised Medicaid and Medicare benefits that will be available in
decision concerning your

*
the future. - H.R. Bill, Title II, Subtitle A
health care options.

NO YES Health care

exchanges
A lot of unknowns when it comes to
how the government plans to implement
the health care exchange on 2014, however
here is a breakdown of what we do know:

Health insurance exchanges will have

four levels of benefits to choose from.
Do you want Each plan will cover essential health
insurance? benefits, plus four tiers of coverage. Some
essential benefits include emergency
service, hospitalization, maternity and
newborn care, prescription drugs, lab
Are you insured through

NO
services and pediatric care.
your employer or have
• The BRONZE Plan will offer the
private insurance? essentials: minimum cost-sharing
protections that will cover 60 percent
of the full value of the benefits.

YES YES • The SILVER Plan offers the

essentials, plus more: cost-sharing
protections that will cover 70 percent
of the full value of the benefits.
Starting in 2014, most

NO
• The GOLD Plan offers the essentials,
Americans will be required plus more: cost-sharing protections
to buy health insurance or that will cover 80 percent of the full
pay a penalty. value of the benefits
- H.R. 3950, Subtitle .
F, Part I, Sec. 1504 Do you want to keep your • The PLATINUM Plan offers the
current plan? essentials, plus more: cost-sharing
Are you 26 years old or protections that will cover 90 percent
of the full value of the benefits.
younger? Source: H.R. 3950, Part IV - State
Flexibility to Establish Alternative
Programs

YES
NO NO
If you are enrolled in either
Medicaid or Medicare, you
can keep your current ben-

*
NO
efits, but changes to the
programs will be made.

You can stay on your

YES
parents choice of
insurance.
- H.R. 3950, Title I,
Subtitle A, Subpart
II, Sec. 2714 You can buy coverage
through new health care

*
exchanges starting in
2014.
You will qualify for Medic- - H.R. 3950
aid if your household
income is below 133 per-
cent of the poverty level
starting in 2014. You can keep your
- H.R. 3950, Title II, Subtitle current plan, however,
A, Sec. 2001
changes to your cover-
age may occur.

Source: H.R. 3950, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act
Design by • Chris Scott, Karissa Rodriguez