Now that healthcare
reform has become law and
the dust of the contentious
debate has begun to settle,
Bucks students ponder
what the new healthcare
law means for them.
Dependent students
covered on
parents’ policies
until age 26
Many Bucks students
should benefit from a provision
that allows dependent
young adults to remain
on their parents’ health
insurance policies up to
age 26. “Nice,” was how
Julia Valdetto, 21, a psychology
major from
Warminster, reacted to this
news.
Like millions of other
Americans, Valdetto lost
her health insurance coverage
when she became
unemployed.
As long as she remains
her parents’ dependent,
Valdetto will be able to get
health insurance coverage
for the next five years
through their policies.
Mwansa Mupunda, 30, a
nursing major from Bristol,
is too old to benefit from
this provision.
Mupunda is as employed
as an L.P.N. and has health
insurance coverage
through his employer.
There are numerous provisions
in the new law,
however, that will benefit
those like Mupunda, who
already have private health
insurance.

o more denials
for pre-existing
conditions
Health insurance companies
will no longer be
able refuse to pay medical
costs for children or
adults with pre-existing
conditions. Also, companies
can no longer terminate
coverage simply
because someone
becomes sick.
Bucks students who are
majoring in healthcare
related professions will
also benefit. The new law
will provide additional
government funding for
training of doctors, nurses,
and other healthcare professionals.
“That’s great
news for students like me,”
said Mupunda, who intends
to become an R.N.
Cheaper Student
Loans and More
Grant Money
The new healthcare legislation
also contains provisions
that make sweeping
reforms to the student loan
and Pell Grant systems.
President Obama highlighted
these reforms by
signing the bill that contained
them, the Health
Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of
2010, at Northern Virginia
Community College in
Alexandria, Va.
Unlike the present system
of banks using government
money to issue student
loans, the government will
loan the money to directly
to the college students.
The loans will still be serviced
through private companies
under performancebased
contracts with the
government.
“By cutting out the middleman,
we’ll save
American taxpayers $68
billion,” said President
Obama when he signed the
Healthcare and Education
Reconciliation Act.
Obama said in his speech
that the savings would be
reinvested “to help
improve the quality of
higher education and make
college more affordable.
According to the ABC
World News website, the
changes include more than
$2 billion (distributed over
a four-year period) in funding
for community colleges.
The new law also
caps the amount of annual
student loan repayments
for graduates at 10 percent,
down from the previous 15
percent cap.
Mupunda and Valdetto
welcome these changes as
good news. Mupunda said
that these changes would
help him directly.
Valdetto said the changes
should also help those who
either can’t attend college
or have to drop out
because of financial
issues.
Dustin Ciukurescu, 20, a
kinesiology major from
Richboro, and Lou
O’Connor, 19, a psychology
major, are not supporters
of the reforms.
O’Connor and Ciurescu
said that the changes to the
loan and grants programs
might be beneficial, but
doubt that the changes will
actually be put in to effect.
Cuikurescu reserves his
final judgment until he sees
what actually happens.
Penalties for failure
to buy health
insurance not as
bad as students
fear
O’Connor and
Ciukurescu are concerned
about being required to
have health insurance.
Beginning in 2014 people
who don’t purchase health
insurance will be required
to pay a penalty.
According to The New
York Times, in 2014, the
penalty will be one percent
of income or $95, whichever
is greater. By 2016 the
penalty increases to up to
2.5 percent of income or
$2,085 per household,
whichever is greater.
People would only be fined
after going three months
without insurance.
Concerned students are
not alone.
According to CNN, officials
from 14 states including
Pennsylvania have
filed lawsuits. Those suing
are calling the penalties
unconstitutional.
“If, for instance, I only
make $26,000 a year after I
graduate, how will I afford
8,500?”asked one concerned
student.
In 2016 someone making
$26,000 would pay a
penalty of $650 a year, at
most, a far cry from the
$8,500 some fear having to
pay in the future.
The reforms will be putting
a lot of money into
community colleges and
might prove positive for a
lot of Bucks students.