| Citizens Gather in Support of expanding healthcare coverage to young adults Keene State College Students, Antioch Graduates and Keene Representative Rally in front of KSC |
| Posted by Jaime Contois (jcontois) on Jun 02 2009 at 7:39 PM |
SB 115, a senate bill to expand healthcare coverage to young adults, these citizens shared their stories on how critical healthcare is to this age group.
The event was held to highlight the growing need for healthcare coverage for young adults. The event also brought attention to the March 3rd public hearing at the State Capital to discuss SB 115. Young people graduating from school and entering the workforce often go without health insurance – either because they can’t afford it, they cannot access their parents’ coverage, or because their job doesn’t offer coverage. SB 115 allows these
Senate Bill 115 strengthens our state’s financial stability by keeping the link between a healthy and participatory workforce and a strong economy. By focusing on prevention, we will save money that would otherwise go to pay for expensive ER care, and it helps people maintain insurance to cover the cost of their health care needs. Additionally, this legislation will close a loophole in coverage: last year, the legislature passed a law to allow young adults to remain on their parents’ insurance plan, but this excluded coverage for young adults without insured parents. SB 115 helps address the health coverage needs of young adults who are unable to tap a parents’ coverage – because the parent does not have health insurance or is ineligible for the dependent coverage extension.
Keri Wolfe, a recent UNH graduate from Swanzey, highlighted how important it was to her to have her healthcare extended under her parents plan. “As a new college graduate, I could have never afforded to pay for my medications, yearly check-ups and blood work without insurance,” said Keri Wolfe, Swanzey resident, “I am lucky my parents had insurance that could still cover me; there are many more in our state who are not so fortunate. We need to make sure that young people in our community have access to quality, affordable health care coverage.”
Two students from Keene State College shared that a friend of theirs had to drop off of the Keene State College Lacrosse team because of not having healthcare. Another friend and KSC student lacking healthcare coverage has been sick and wracked up thousands of dollars of debt going to the Emergency Room. Yet another student without healthcare had gone to the Health Clinic on campus and couldn’t even afford the necessary prescriptions.
Ivy Downing, who works in
According the NH Center for Public Policy Studies, there are over 15,651 uninsured 19-25 year olds in NH. With only 84,147 19-25 year olds in NH, this age group has one of the highest rates of being uninsured in the state at 18.6%.
The Public Hearing is: Tuesday, March 3rd at 8:45am
Where: State House room 103
Committee: Senate Health and Human Services
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