Current Government Steps Towards Research and Deployment

The Affordable Care Act, signed by Obama in June 2012, means expanded options of financial aid and healthcare for students. It was said that more ways provided to get a good insurance, ways which were not available before. The most important are the improved health plans for students, the Medicaid eligibility expanded, as well as the possibility to be on the parent's insurance until the age of 26.

A young person is eligible for Medicaid if has the college aid but is not in college. The federal poverty level plays an important role. It is the income that is being taken into account. Starting with January 2014, the need-based healthcare program addresses the individuals who make less than $15,000 yearly, as Van Ostern stated. More categories will qualify for financial aids, such as the college graduates who have low-paid jobs. These will benefit of subsidies for insurance starting with the first day of 2014.

Besides coverage for students, the Affordable Care Act ensures loan forgiveness options and additional funding for those who enter health fields. 3O more million people were estimated by the White house to become insured thanks to the new measures. This means a whole new influx of health sector workers: nurses, primary care physicians. The personnel that fills up these positions can benefit of loan forgiveness, for example. The wide spectrum of healthcare jobs will be included in the new insurance plans.

The parental coverage for individuals under 26 years of age is addressed to anyone studying, working, or looking for work. Concerning the student health plans, the Affordable Care Act states that such plans will offer free preventative care, include prescription coverage, and extend the annual benefits to $100,000. It will be life-changing, as Van Ostern claims, but not for the students in those schools with annual low limits. The ones on insurance plans where the maximum amount can be reached will see the huge consequences. Experts believe this would drive up premiums for the student plans. These, however, will still remain cheaper than the individual plans.