Some college students are likely to be impacted by President Barack Obama's new health care plan.
Full-time students who are 26 years old and younger will be covered under the new health care insurance policy.
According to CNN's Truth Squad, young adults in low-income families lose Medicaid when they turn 19.
In the House and Senate proposals, people in their 20s could also receive Medicaid.
The Affordable Health Choices Act, passed by the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee allows coverage for students under their parents' private insurance policies up to age 26.
The Obama administration's health care overhaul, consists of proposals that would provide coverage for full-time students who, under current laws, would be dropped from their parents' insurance plans at 25.
"A benefit of Obama's proposed health care plan is that it provides regular checkups, up-to-date vaccinations and diabetes regulation," said Dr. Frederick Kam, director of the Auburn University Medical Clinic.
"I have been in business for a while, and I sell health care insurance to maybe four or five students a month," said Jerry Powell, an independent insurance agent. "It will be good if the new health care proposal works, but I don't believe it will. If students can't afford health care insurance, they can apply for Medicaid."
Powell said students often don't realize they need health insurance until they are sick and that acquiring health insurance takes time.
However, even without coverage, students can still receive treatment at hospitals because it is illegal to turn away people seeking care.
"As of right now, students who are 26-years-old are no longer covered by their parents' health care insurance policies," Kam said. "It would cost anywhere from $120 to $350 a month for a college student in their mid-20s to get health care independently."
A good option for students who are no longer covered under their parents insurance is the SGA-sponsored health plan, Kam said.
Any Auburn student is eligible for the SGA-sponsored health plan. Students that visit the AU Clinic will receive discounts for physicals and injections.
If the AU Clinic can no longer assist a student's medical needs, then an outside doctor is recommended.
The plan has a $250,000 maximum benefit, and a $200 deductible.
If a student visits the clinic for a regular checkup his or her co-pay is only $20.
If a student goes to the Health Center, the co-pay is $25, which covers lab exams. The annual cost for the plan is about $1,248.
"We need to do something about healthcare, but we have to keep the United States competitive," Kam said. "If health care costs so much money, somebody in another country may have better prices, and we're going to price ourselves out of competing in the global market."
More information about the plan can be found at uhcsr.com.
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