College Students and Recent Grads Conflicted about Health Care Reform, according to eHealthInsurance Survey
June 11, 2012
Nearly a quarter would cheer the collapse of health reform, but more than six-in-ten would gladly accept government subsidies to help them buy coverage
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA—June 11, 2012 – With the Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) this month, college students and recent graduates are divided about the law’s value and future, according to a survey sponsored by eHealthInsurance (NASDAQ: EHTH), the leading online source of health insurance for individuals and families.
According to eHealthInsurance’s survey, conducted in April 2012 by Kelton Research, nearly a quarter of current students (23%) and recent college graduates (23%) will be “pleased” if the ACA is ruled unconstitutional, while more than four-in-ten (42% of current students; 44% of grads) will feel “indifferent” if the law is invalidated. At the same time, a substantial majority of each group would gladly accept government subsidies to help them buy coverage on their own.
The survey also reveals that today’s young adults have mixed feelings about the “individual mandate,” requiring most consumers without coverage to purchase it beginning in 2014, and many are not well informed about the provisions of the ACA already in effect.
Regarding the Supreme Court Decision on Health Reform
- A third of recent grads (33%) and a similar amount of current students (36%) say they will feel “disappointed” if the health reform law is ruled unconstitutional
- More than two-in-ten (23% each for grads and students) will be “pleased” if the law is ruled unconstitutional
- However, more than four-in-ten recent grads (44%) and current students (42%) say they will feel “indifferent” if the law is invalidated by the court
Knowledge of Health Reform Provisions
- Less than six-in-ten recent grads (57%) and even fewer current students (43%) are aware that that the health reform law now allows them to stay on their parents’ health insurance policies until age 26
- Very few recent grads (15%) and current students (16%) are aware that health reform now ensures access to more preventive medical care services at no out-of-pocket cost
- Similarly few grads (14%) and students (16%) are aware that the health care reform law did away with lifetime limits on health insurance coverage for most covered services
Regarding the Individual Health Insurance “Mandate”
- Nearly a quarter of recent grads (24%) and two-in-ten current students (20%) say they would “not comply” with the mandate to purchase health insurance coverage, if it applied to them
- Among those who would comply, a slim majority think the mandate is a “good idea” (52% of grads, 53% of students); more than four-in-ten grads (48%) and students (47%) do not consider the mandate a good idea
Regarding Subsidies to Help Them Afford Health Insurance
- More than six-in-ten recent grads (64%) and current students (63%) would be grateful to receive government health insurance subsidies, if they qualified for them
- About a quarter of grads (23%) and students (26%) would feel “indifferent” about receiving subsidies
- Few recent grads (13%) and current students (11%) would feel “embarrassed” about receiving government subsidy assistance
An analysis of survey results touching on these themes has been prepared by Kelton Research and is available for download through the eHealthInsurance Media Center.
The eHealthInsurance Survey of College Students, Grads and Parents was conducted by Kelton Research between April 13 and April 23, 2012, using an email invitation and an online survey. Kelton Research surveyed a sample of 271 full-time college students ages 18-30, as well as 255 recent college graduates ages 18-30 who are in the workforce now or seeking employment. Kelton Research also surveyed a sample of 550 parents with full-time college students or recent graduates.
To learn more about survey results and survey methodology, please refer to eHealthInsurance’s May 7, 2012 press release.
Additional Consumer Resources:
- Review a list of tips designed specifically for college students, grads and parents from eHealthInsurance’s April 17, 2012 press release
- Download or request a FREE printed copy of our book, Individual Health Insurance For Dummies, Health Care Reform Special Edition, produced in cooperation with For Dummies®, a branded imprint of Wiley, and co-authored by eHealthInsurance
- Follow eHealthInsurance’s consumer blog, Get Smart – Get Covered
- Watch educational health insurance videos from eHealthInsurance on YouTube
- Browse our answers to real-life health insurance questions on Yahoo Answers
- Follow eHealthInsurance on Facebook and Twitter
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About eHealth
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) is the parent company of eHealthInsurance, the nation's leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses. Through the company's website, www.eHealthInsurance.com, consumers can get quotes from leading health insurance carriers, compare plans side by side, and apply for and purchase health insurance. eHealthInsurance offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by more than 180 of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealthInsurance is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, making it the ideal model of a successful, high-functioning health insurance exchange. Through the company’s eHealthTechnology solution (www.eHealthTechnology.com), eHealth is also a leading provider of health insurance exchange technology. eHealthTechnology’s exchange platform provides a suite of hosted e-commerce solutions that enable health plan providers, resellers and government entities to market and distribute products online. eHealth, Inc. also provides powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help seniors navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online through its wholly-owned subsidiary, PlanPrescriber.com (www.planprescriber.com) and through its Medicare website www.eHealthMedicare.com.
For more health insurance news and information, visit the eHealthInsurance consumer blog: Get Smart – Get Covered.