<p>Well, it isn't so much that I don't want health insurance as much as I don't want to pay for it. My college requires students to either have their own insurance or be charged for the school's coverage plan. I am forced to pay for my school's insurance at ~$1000 (for 10 months or 1 year...not sure). I know this isn't too much although I'm relatively sure the insurance itself is somewhat limited (I'm certain it doesn't include dental or vision).</p>
<p>I know people are going to say what about emergencies, illnesses, etc. Well, let me just say that the potential risks of something happening and not having insurance is far less than the added benefit of $1000. I rarely get sick and if I do it is just a cold, which doesn't require treatment. I'm very health conscious. I eat as much nutritious food as I can per day (~3000 Cal) and exercise daily. I believe I'm at a very low risk of needing medical attention and/or prescriptions. If I do need something, I think I can use my saved money to cover whatever attention I may need.</p>
<p>Anyone else share my line of thinking? I guess at a private school they can require anything of you to attend, but shouldn't I have some kind of right to not have insurance if I choose? Especially, if it is a financial burden to me.</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant I could cover small things such as prescriptions in case of pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infection, etc…things that aren’t too uncommon. </p>
<p>No, I haven’t seen a hospital bill before. I’ve been lucky enough to never need a trip to the hospital. I know it can be thousands of dollars for a serious problem, but I’m willing to take the minimal risk until I get a job that provides health benefits. As I stated before, the benefits outweigh the potential risks. The benefits: continue to help my parents and brother get by and sustain myself with the right food and luxuries such as having a cellphone, haircuts, and buying clothes, shoes occasionally.</p>
<p>When finances are real tight, that amount of money can go a long way.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, you’d probably make it through college just fine, but if you have any serious condition, many of which are out of you control diet and exercise-wise, you’re pretty much 100% ■■■■■■. Just something to think about.</p>
<p>I haven’t been to the doctor - or even the dentist - for over five years. Nothing’s wrong with me. I’m not particularly health conscious, I smoke, and I don’t exercise as much as I should.</p>
<p>No health problems, no cavities for crying out loud. I think health insurance at this age is a waste. People are <em>supposed</em> to be healthy when they’re ~20.</p>
<p>Can you say “car accident”? Can you say “Hodgkins disease”? Can you say “appendicitis”?</p>
<p>All of those things are not uncommon in a 20-year-old.</p>
<p>While $1,000 will cover the cough and cold visits – and maybe a sprained ankle – it will not cover the cost when you break your arm skateboarding, get a concussion from playing touch football, or get a serious eye infection that requires several types of medications.</p>
<p>If you don’t have insurance and get appendicitis, who will pay for your operation? Taxpayers don’t want to pay your bills. We all must pay, and our current mechanism is largely via health insurance.</p>
<p>Colleges (via financial aid) determine what is a burden, not students.</p>
<p>You cannot predict when an accident will occur or when you will come down with a serious illness.</p>
<p>Do you really want to take the risk that if either of the above happens, any savings you have could be wiped out, or that in addition you could be saddled with hospital/doctor bills that you could spend years, if not the rest of your life paying off?</p>
<p>Sure, because people who eat healthy and exercise can’t get into a car accident, can’t fall down a flight of stairs, can’t get injured, can’t get cancer, can’t have a problem with their gallbladder, appendix, tonsils, etc. if you don’t want to get health insurance, then I agree it’s unfair that you HAVE to, although I suppose your college can argue that it’s a private institution and you don’t have to go there. but god forbid you find out you have leukemia or get into a car crash - you’ll be grateful for the insurance then.</p>
<p>people are <em>supposed</em> to be healthy at 20? you can eat well/exercise, but that ain’t gonna help you if you have cancer or are in an accident.</p>
<p>If you are 18+ and don’t have a job, then you have $0 net income. That means are are poor and can get Medicaid. The majority of college students are eligible for Medicaid and many other types of govt assiatance. Most if not all are eligible for food stamps and subsidized living as well. </p>
<p>If you live at home then the families net income will be looked at. If you live on your own for the majority of the year in a apartment or dorm, you are then considered the “head of household”, your income being $0 or under ~$6XX regards you as poor and in poverty and this you qualify for such need. If you have credit card debt and loans it even makes you more eligible.</p>
<p>I’ll have to look into that, but most of the health insurance stuff I’ve dealt with still considers me a dependent. I did live back at home this past summer (this coming summer is uncertain). Haha my dad has been telling me to try getting food stamps, etc, but I haven’t really looked into it because if I could do it why not every other college student? Unless it is this secret loop hole nobody is taking advantage of.</p>
<p>It is kind of frustrating because I pay for food, tuition, and housing using summer work and loans for most of the year, but I’m still a dependent. I understand why, but it’s still tough to accept. </p>
<p>I did make approximately $6000 for 2008…not sure if I still qualify with no dependents.</p>
<p>Check the rules for your state. In some states, full-time college students are disqualified; in others, living at home with parents when school is not in session is disqualifying.</p>
<p>Not to offend anybody but most college students are quite inexperienced when it comes to every day things. Most have very little common sense. many think they are incredibly intelligent just because they went to college, but they have no idea how to actually survive without mom and dads support. Theres a reason your dad knows about it and you don’t. </p>
<p>Most college students don’t know of alot of things, and like I said they seem to think they are smart. Anybody who pays 50K a year for a education is also pretty dumb. But thats another topic. </p>
<p>Theres no loopholes at all. If you meet your states Medicaid guidelines, then you qualify. Its that simple.<br>
The majority of rich folk get there children emancipated quite early for good reason. They are smart and know how to use the system.<br>
School health insurance is usually a scam anyway. They give you a attractive rate, but give very little coverage.</p>
<p>If your school has decent coverage, I recommend you get it. Skinny health people still have strokes and hear attacks, they still get sick at pretty much the same rate as everybody else. You already pay a lot for school. Imagine you have a heart attack and survive. Now that expensive education just got 500K added onto it. $1000 vs $500000, your choice.</p>
<p>^ I’m no grammar nazi, but when you’re lecturing people on how stupid they are, it helps if you don’t make basic 1st grade spelling errors like “alot” </p>
<p>I’m not from PA so I don’t know the laws there, but look into whether or not you can get medicaid. You’re probably considered a dependent at this point though.</p>
<p>u think that way now watch the movie John Q if you get cancer and need a transplant your straight up #$%<em>. or if you have a severe coronary and even if the doctors are able to bring u back it will destroy your cardiac muscle absolutely destroying your heart leaving you about 1-7 days of life. then you will be thinking if only i wasnt such a dumb</em>** and got insurance. Get the insurance idiot.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I like the mentality that you’re an idiot if you don’t get health insurance.</p>
<p>Had I not had health insurance for the last 5 years, that would have been $5000 for the dude who started this thread.</p>
<p>The only fair way to settle this is to do a study on the probabilities involved and leave it to the individual as to what they consider a reasonable risk. There’s no right or wrong answer. It depends.</p>
<p>For instance, if I calculate my expected benefit from health insurance is $500 and it costs $1000, and the probability of running up a large bill - over $5000 - is under %10, then maybe it’s worth it to me.</p>
<p>Numbers? Fabricated. But if you understand the point you’ll agree and drop it.</p>
<p>Healthy members balance the unhealthy ones in the pool. I bet college students rates are lower because aside from accidents and mental health, they we a pretty healthy pool. The problem is, more often than not, the uninsured’s “risk” is actually covered by the rest of us. Some with uninsured motorists. A new option is cheaper insurance with huge deductibles for healthy folk. Or a health savings account.</p>
<p>BTW, you are not eligible for food stamps if you don’t have a kitchen (like when you live in a dorm). At least in my day.</p>
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