Nationally, minorities are disproportionately represented among the uninsured for young adults between the ages of 19 to 29, according to The Commonwealth Fund, a private organization providing independent health care research.
“There is an existing health system designed for students with nurses, doctors, pharmacies etc on college campuses,” Mitchell said, “So the kind of insurance they need needs has to wrap around that system, cover hospitalization cost, and any other catastrophic health issues.”
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Recent Graduates Fall Short on Coverage With college graduates coming into one of the worst job markets in a 25 years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor — 15 percent of 20-24 year olds were unemployed in June — the young, dropped and jobless make up at least 30 percent of the uninsured nationwide. The Wall Street Journal reported that recession-era graduates can expect to earn less in wages, trading low-skilled jobs for their dream careers and limiting their health care access. The Fund’s 2009 report noted a breakdown in health coverage once a student earns a college degree. A few insurance plans will cover students until their 22nd birthday and some have extended that grace period for recent graduates. “This is a time when we want them [young adults] to establish connections to the health care system,” said Sara Collins, vice president of the Fund's Affordable Health Insurance Program. Lower incomes will only exacerbate concerns for the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. population without health insurance. --Arelis Hernandez |
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