sigh. Now I'm pissed again. "Parents don't like junior on insurance"

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/capitol_business/2011/05/mom-and-dad-dont-like-junior-on.html


When Congress adopted health care reform last year, its leaders beamed that provisions requiring insurers to cover children up to age 26 would make a lot of underinsured or uninsured young adults healthier and happier.

But apparently they forgot to speak with one group that wasn’t wild about the idea: The parents of those Gen Y beneficiaries.

A new survey done by eHealthInsurance and Kelton Research finds that 56 percent of parents will provide no more than one year of financial assistance to their college graduate children, if any at all. It also shows that 43 percent of parental respondents would keep their college graduate on their health insurance plans only if it cost them zero money.

Much of the debate around the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) centered around making insurance more affordable, whether by expanding eligibility for publicly funded low-income programs or limiting the percentage of premiums that health insurers can put to overhead and profit.

The provision requiring insurers to let young adults nest on their parents’ policies longer was meant to make it more affordable for new grads. But because it didn’t put any limits on how much insurance policies could charge for adding those young adults, the cost simply shifted to the parents — making insurance less affordable for them.

Among the questions asked by the survey was: What would you be willing to provide your children with after they graduate college? A minority of the respondents — 45 percent — said they would put their kids on their health insurance plan until they turn 26. That’s more than the 37 percent who said they would help with student loans or the 29 percent who said they’d help with rent. But it’s less than the 51 percent who said that they would provide a small amount of money each month to help pay for bills and much less than the 89 percent who said they would provide moral support, such as advice (which brings to mind the question: Who exactly are the 11 percent of parents not willing to provide moral support to their kids?)



Read more: Parents don't like junior on insurance | Denver Business Journal

[csziggy]

1. More likely - parents can't AFFORD to have junior on insurance

What percentage of Americans with 20 something children can afford insurance for themselves, much less for their children?

I know at the point when I graduated from college, no matter how much my parents would have liked to have helped me get insurance, they could not afford it. I can't imagine it is any better today.

[Wounded Bear]

14. I can't insure me.....my kid has better insurance than I do...

Can I get on hers?

:shrug:

[mcar]

20. My employer-provided insurance has a family rate

I pay it whether I've got one or both of my kids on it. Same rate. Now my 24 YO has a job and insurance. I'm paying the same, even though he's not on my insurance any more.

[RadiationTherapy]

25. I paid family rate for 6 years with one child...

while my uninsured brother decayed from the aftershocks of his radiation therapy.

[Fumesucker]

2. If your kids won't talk to you it's hard to provide moral support..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1204714

[hobbit709]

3. Day I turned 18 it was YOYO time.

[Codeine]

31. As it damned well should be.

I moved out at 17 and made a life for myself. I'm disgusted by people who live with mommy and daddy into their fucking 30s.

[Horse with no Name]

4. I am glad that I can put my kids on my insurance

HOWEVER, the privilege does cost me considerably more than I expected it would...to the tune of $300/month. I currently have two on it, but my oldest drops out this summer because she turns 26--my premium won't go down though. We got a letter from the insurance company offering to let her continue her own policy at $787 per MONTH.:eyes:

[tridim]

5. The article forgot to mention that it's not mandatory.

Oops. :eyes:

[Billy Burnett]

23. Yes. It was fully discussed here at the time of the debate.

We also discussed that there was nothing to stop the insurance cos from charging what they please for the addition of an adult child to the policy.

[Billy Burnett]

24. dupe

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. The vast majority of kids in that age range are the healthiest they

will be in their lives.

That means the ins. companies get to charge more for the 'family' insurance, while not paying out much if anything in benefits.

Before this legislation, those kids would - as I did at that age - simply go uninsured. Other than the 3 years I was in the service, from 20-23, I had no health insurance between 17 and 35. And for the most part I didn't miss it.

A hell of a scam.

[onpatrol98]

10. ain't it though...

I mean really...I was shocked at how well and willing we took it. Insurance companies said..yeah, we can make this work...if you force your young and healthy to purchase health insurance, we'll consent. But, we all know...the first time they really need it, the cost will be astronomical.

And, heck...we cheered...it was wonderful???

We thought we would get cheaper health insurance if insurance companies were able to pick pocket younger, healthier Americans...WHO THEY DIDN'T THINK WOULD ACTUALLY NEED TO USE THEIR SERVICE.

Generational theft...compliments of Big Insurance...our crowning achievement.

Mandatory purchase of a product...from the biggest thief in the land...Insurance companies (compliments of my very own party)

I still love our President, but that was not the change I was looking for...that change sucks!

[abelenkpe]

7. It will be a long time before that's an issue for me

but honestly I'd give up eating rather than risk letting my kid go without health insurance. Geez, by then I hope we have single payer.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. I am having trouble, right now, getting my 12 year old insured.

Big Insurance Co. took the health insurance "reform" as an opportunity to withdraw benefit availability to children only. I'm having a hard time really caring anymore.

[Indykatie]

16. Comments From a Health Care Strategist

Yes, there really is such a job and I have been in that role for 10 years. There is so much that is BS about this article. First of all, parents had the choice of whether to enroll or re-enroll their children on their Employer plans. In many cases, there would be no increase in premiums since it is fairly common for group employer plans to charge the same for 1 child as they would for 5 or any number for that matter. Many companies did however roll out higher annual employee contributions based on 3 HCR components: higher dependent ages, unlimited lifetime maximums and unlimited preventive care. Actuarial analyses indicate that these improvements could add between 1% to 2% to a company's health care spend. These enhancements in coverage have been received positively with many families being helped at the company where I work. This is different than the response that I heard when HCR was initially passed. I had to face the anger about "Obamacare" from many areas in the company, including our Unions which surprised me. I assumed they would be pleased with the expansion of coverage but the Tea Party mentality was pervasive in those months following passage of the legislation.

I'm suspicious of any article that claims parents would withhold providing health insurance to their grown children even if it meant an increase in their payroll contributions. As someone stated young adults under 30 are generally a healthy lot and the expansion of coverage to age 26 is not expected to add much to the trend for a company. The costs associated with have an unlimited lifetime maximum and unlimited preventive care will drive the majority of the additional costs. For families in search of coverage for young adults in the 19-26 age group BCBS/Anthem has a number of plans with a $500 deductible that cost under $200 a month assuming the person is healthy. These policies are so cheap because they can continue to eliminate sicker folks via the underwriting process.

ScreamingMeemie, please send me an e-mail if you would like to connect to discuss finding coverage for your 12 year old.

[Donnachaidh]

18. Do you have a statewide insurance program for kids of working poor?

Here in Georgia we have Peachcare, which we used as a bridge until my DH's new insurance kicked in. He was totally covered for 25 bucks a month. Call your local county health dept. to see if there is something available.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Yes, but I am not working poor. I make too much money to qualify.

Right now, as it stands, I can buy short term coverage for him. 80/20 coverage.

[soufflez_moi]

9. Good for the parents....

At 18 your an ADULT welcome to the world, now support yourself.

Yes times are tough but at 18 you can easily move around to find a job or join the military.

I am as liberal as they come but you need to support yourself even it it means taking a job you hate.

Parents should not have to support their kids for life.

Please no whining, I have been supporting myself since I was 17 with a job, home, INSURANCE, bills, etc...I am 50 now and have even been unemployed a few times to boot.

Suck it up buttercup, support yourself like an adult.

[Pithlet]

11. You may be liberal

But you're hardly liberal as they come if you don't realize that times have changed since you were younger. Sorry.

[soufflez_moi]

13. No I understand very well

I was just unemployed and many of my friends still are yet they are supporting themselves.

If getting a job means moving to China, ya do it.

[Pithlet]

15. This isn't about getting a job and supporting yourself.

Hell, I did that. I hope my kids can do so as well. It's about health insurance and the fact that kids no longer have to get kicked off. That is good legislation. There is a big difference between fully supporting your children, and keeping them on a health insurance policy. It's ridiculous to just kick them off to make some point. It's different if it makes a premium unaffordable, of course.

[The Gunslinger]

28. You go first

Blah blah blah. Pull yourself up by the bootstraps...........thanks for the rightist crap, but I would never send my kid to China or the military to get killed for the oil companies just because they hit an arbitrary age. The age limit of dependents is one of the few good things in the health care plan.

[soufflez_moi]

30. Support your kids forever

I really do not care how you run your life.

U think I am a rightist, OK, I do not care.

You want to rise lazy kids who are totally dependent upon you, fine by me, your choice.

If America had single payer this would not be an issue.

If you did not raise your kids to be self sufficient and independent by the time they are 18, you have failed as a parent.

[Angry Dragon]

33. Trust fund babies

[Indykatie]

17. Pardonez Moi But Your Opinion is Ridiculous

Yes I know you are entitled to it but it's stupid never the less. I doubt that you are liberal given your view point. It is entirely possible that your children (if you're so blessed) might end up taking care of you so suck on THAT buttercup.

[soufflez_moi]

32. My kids are perfectly fine

I raised critical thinkers who saw the writing on the wall at an early age, they learned foreign languages, obtained advanced education and are now working in fields that do not require them to remain in America to support themselves unless they choose too.

My kids will not have to support me, see being an adult, I have been planning for my old age, yes I will need SS and medicare like the vast majority of Americans even if they both go away, I will still support myself without the help of mommy and daddy

[Blue-Jay]

19. That's very boot-strappy!

"I did it! So should you!"

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. Well, ouch, and I welcomed you on another thread.

[Beaverhausen]

12. For me, as a stepmother, I'm thrilled that I can cover my college-age stepdaughter

My husband was paying twice as much for a policy for her before we got her on my insurance. Not sure how long we will keep her on it, but it works for us.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. This Is A "Well, Duh"

Nobody LIKES to pay for insurance. It's just the smart thing to do. The fact that it had to be mandated just shows how silly a lot of people can be.

Those of us who had it without being mandated to do so, don't like paying the premiums. It's just the "adult" thing to do.
GAC

[Roselma]

26. On the family rate, we would pay no more for

three than for two than for one dependent. My friend's daughter just gave birth (twins - no less!) as a single mom at the age of 22. She was never a college student, but her parents kept her on their plan. They will keep her there until she's 26 or gets her act together, whichever comes first. Her babies are now on Medicaid, since their mom earns less than $100/week.

[Raine]

29. My parents would've been thrilled to have

been able to do that with me and my brother. It was a big concern to them.

[WCGreen]

34. Simple resolution...

Have the kids pay for their share of the health insurance.

That would allow mom and dad give their kids access to inexpensive and probably better insurance than they could get out on the open market...