By: Emily Beaver

President Obama recently brought the health care reform debate to a youth audience at the University of Maryland. The rally was the president's first youth event since his campaign and the atmosphere was similar to a campaign rally. At the end of the rally, Obama pumped up an enthusiastic crowd of 15,000 people with his "fired up, ready to go" chant.

In contrast to the festive atmosphere, the rally opened with a young-- and sobering--perspective on health care reform. Before introducing the president, 20-year-old University of Maryland junior Rachel Peck spoke about surviving papillary thyroid cancer during her freshman year. Peck was covered under her parents' health insurance, but said she worried about being able to pay for treatment if her cancer returns. She told the crowd to do something about health care now.

Obama's speech was similar to the one he delivered to Congress earlier this month, although he focused on the importance of health reform for young people. One in three young adults live without insurance and are "one accident or illness away from bankruptcy," Obama said.

So how would health care reform change young people's lives? Everyone would be required to have health insurance, Obama said. Young people could stay insured under their parents' plans until age 26, he said. This change could have a big impact on the young population, since only 25 states have passed laws allowing young people to be insured under their parents' plans until age 24 or older.

Young people who can't get health insurance through a parent would be able to buy affordable health insurance through an exchange, or a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to purchase affordable health insurance, Obama said. One of the options in the exchange should be the public option, a government health insurance program, he said. Although the president has mentioned the public option in speeches, it's not certain whether health care reform will include a public option. Last week, Senator Max Baucus released a health reform plan that does not have a public option.

By speaking at the youth rally, President Obama emphasized the importance of getting young people insured and involved in the health care debate. Although young adults are one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the population without insurance, they've often been left out of the debate.

Young people need to have access to affordable health care, regardless of where they work or if their parents have health insurance. But without a public option, it's hard to see how health care reform will change the situation of young adults who struggle to get insurance through work or on the private insurance market.

Talking to young people about health care reform is a good first step, but the real test will be whether President Obama can pass health care reform that offers a real change for youth.

Previously:

• Ten Health Care Terms You Need to Know
• Obama's Health Care Speech -- Hard to Swallow?
• Old vs. Young -- the Health Care Tug-Of-War

 

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