Students must grasp Health Insurance

By Crissanka ChristadossAssistant Features EditorWhitney Weber would like to know what to do about health insurance when she graduates in one month."I am under my parents’ health insurance and I don’t know what to do once I go off their insurance. I’d like to know what I should do," said Weber, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts.Weber isn’t alone in wondering about the complexities of health insurance. Jim Layman, business manager for the Student Health Center, said most Purdue students are covered by some sort of health insurance but there are a small percentage of students who don’t have coverage.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 29.6 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years old didn’t have health insurance in 2002. This age group was less likely than any other age group to have health insurance in 2002.There are many reasons why students might not carry health insurance. Jacob Kerkhoff, medical benefits manager for human resource services, said students who don’t have coverage usually think they don’t need coverage."Some students find the cost prohibitive or they think ‘I’m healthy, I’m fine.’ But when an accident or emergency happens, it’s too late."In Weber’s case, the problem lies with students who are about to graduate who are under their parents’ insurance plan. Some plans don’t allow dependents after they have graduated or after a certain age.These students usually find jobs after graduation and their employers will offer health benefits. Kerkhoff said Purdue offers a six-month continuation insurance plan for graduates who don’t have insurance after they graduate. When looking for employment, Kerkhoff suggests students pay special attention to the medical benefits."Students need to keep in mind when looking for a job that medical coverage is sometimes offered as compensation."For example, employers might not offer an elaborate medical plan but salary might be better. Or the opposite occurs and an employer offers a substantial medical plan but the pay isn’t as plentiful. Kerkhoff said it has been a national trend this year for a 12 percent cost increase for health insurance for all employers. This makes health insurance the No. 1 issue for employers.Layman said domestic students aren’t required to have health insurance but it is strongly encouraged. There are a variety of health insurance plans available to students through different companies and Purdue also offers a student health insurance plan for undergraduate, graduate and international students.International students must meet certain requirements for health insurance in order to attend Purdue. Michael Brzezinski, director of International Students and Scholars, said many international students aren’t accustomed to medical plans that require co-payments and deductibles. This is due to the fact that health care in other countries is much more affordable than in the United States.According to the Centers for Disease Control, 43.6 million Americans went without health insurance coverage in 2003. Of those millions, 20.1 percent of working-age adults went without health insurance.There might not be an explosion of students on campus without health insurance but the problem exists. Kerkhoff said that students who do have insurance under their parents should discuss what their insurance entails with their parents. He said those without insurance or looking for appropriate insurance should look at a variety of plans to distinguish what works and fits their lifestyle."Just be aware about it and get an idea of what health insurance means."