Spring Break
Student Senate promotes health care
By: Travis Measley
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News
Texas A&M Student Senators Jimmy Widmer and Kristina Campbell introduced a resolution to the Student Senate during the 59th session on April 11 that calls for a campaign to educate A&M students on the importance of health insurance.
According to the National Coalition of Health Care, nearly 47 million Americans, roughly 16 percent of the total U.S. population, were without health insurance in 2005. Young adults ages 18 to 24 are the least likely of any age group to have health insurance, with more than 30 percent of this group not being insured.
The resolution states that as of 2002, roughly 1 million, or 42 percent, of young adults ages 18 to 24 in the state of Texas were without health insurance, which is four percentage points higher than the national average.
Because this resolution has now passed, with a vote of 35 in favor to two opposed, the Senate fully recognizes the importance of health care coverage for college-age individuals.
on their 18th birthday, they are no longer covered by their parents' employee sponsored health insurance coverage plan," Widmer and Campbell reported in the resolution. "Fifty-six percent of uninsured students report forgoing medical treatment due to a lack of health insurance."
In the resolution, the Senate pledges to support a campaign to educate college students on the importance and value of health care coverage in an attempt to slow an alarming trend. It also aims to fix the problem by educating a younger population on the importance of obtaining health care coverage.
"What we are trying to do is help students recognize the importance of health insurance," Widmer said. "It really is a big issue. We need to get the word out. We need to look at ways to get coverage for college students. They need to be educated about all facets of health insurance, and we need to provide them with affordable options. "
There is a bill in the Texas State Legislature (House Bill 3321) concerning student health insurance. Introduced by Rep. Vicki Truitt in March, the bill, if passed, will call for all public institutions of higher education in the state of Texas to have a health benefit plan for enrolled students.
"We are certainly aware of this bill, but we will not consider endorsing or supporting it until it has passed and all the details are known," Widmer said. "But it is certainly a very important piece of legislature."
According to the National Coalition of Health Care, nearly 47 million Americans, roughly 16 percent of the total U.S. population, were without health insurance in 2005. Young adults ages 18 to 24 are the least likely of any age group to have health insurance, with more than 30 percent of this group not being insured.
The resolution states that as of 2002, roughly 1 million, or 42 percent, of young adults ages 18 to 24 in the state of Texas were without health insurance, which is four percentage points higher than the national average.
Because this resolution has now passed, with a vote of 35 in favor to two opposed, the Senate fully recognizes the importance of health care coverage for college-age individuals.
on their 18th birthday, they are no longer covered by their parents' employee sponsored health insurance coverage plan," Widmer and Campbell reported in the resolution. "Fifty-six percent of uninsured students report forgoing medical treatment due to a lack of health insurance."
In the resolution, the Senate pledges to support a campaign to educate college students on the importance and value of health care coverage in an attempt to slow an alarming trend. It also aims to fix the problem by educating a younger population on the importance of obtaining health care coverage.
"What we are trying to do is help students recognize the importance of health insurance," Widmer said. "It really is a big issue. We need to get the word out. We need to look at ways to get coverage for college students. They need to be educated about all facets of health insurance, and we need to provide them with affordable options. "
There is a bill in the Texas State Legislature (House Bill 3321) concerning student health insurance. Introduced by Rep. Vicki Truitt in March, the bill, if passed, will call for all public institutions of higher education in the state of Texas to have a health benefit plan for enrolled students.
"We are certainly aware of this bill, but we will not consider endorsing or supporting it until it has passed and all the details are known," Widmer said. "But it is certainly a very important piece of legislature."
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