UIndy weighs in on health care
By Manny Casillas | Editorial Assistant
Throughout the summer, the debate over health care reform dominated the news. The effort by President Obama and the Democrats to reform health care continues. Americans all over the country have expressed inconveniences in the debate, including wariness of government involvement in health care and of increasing the nation’s deficit. Other concerns have addressed the need to lower costs for treatment and for insurance premiums.
Many students, faculty and staff at the University of Indianapolis voice similar concerns.
“[Getting health care] should be equal and easy for everyone,” said UIndy sophomore Kyrsten Lyster, one of many UIndy students still receiving health care through their parents’ plans. Also like many Americans, Lyster has had her share of frustration when dealing with insurance companies.
“I had to go to the emergency room over the summer, and I was having trouble with my insurance [when it came to] them paying the medical bills,” she said. “ They wanted to pay a small fraction, even though I was covered. They paid, [but] it took longer than it should have. It took a lot of wearing down.”
Some students on campus also express wariness over the idea of the United States government playing a larger role in the nation’s health care system.
One such student is UIndy senior Lucas Souder, whose father is a physician.
“I want to see an option given where people can still choose their doctors-basically, getting people the help they need when they need it, instead of waiting for months like they do in some other countries that are government-run,” Souder said.
A report from the Government Accountability Office published in March of 2008 found that 20 percent of college students (1.7 million) were uninsured. The report also found that most students were covered by a parent’s plan, which would expire when they turn 21.
“I think that reform is necessary,” said junior Allison Michel. “I know that there are a lot of people out there who definitely should be able to afford care, especially those with kids, and older adults who are working and can’t benefit from Medicare or Medicaid, but still need health care.”
UIndy faculty voice similar sentiments, but they are far from unanimous on the subject.
“I think everybody at some level has to like health reform, because I think everybody recognizes that there are people who aren’t getting coverage that need coverage,” said Jonathan Evans, associate professor of philosophy and ethics.
Evans said that he hopes for the best, but it remains to be seen exactly what reform will ultimately look like, if reform is passed at all.
“The things that most interest me are access to better care, and people not getting turned down because of prior history,” said Anna Bennett of the Academic Success Center.
As of The Reflector press time, various health care bills were still being discussed in senate committees.
