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Can you afford to go without medical insurance? 

• Average # of young adults in Whatcom County who use the emergency room and have no insurance: 325 a monthNearly 1 in 3 young adults in the US have no medical insurance.
• Young adults ages 19-29 years old are two times more likely to be uninsured than any other age group.

Risks of staying uninsured include being: Less likely to get preventive care putting you at a higher risk of being hospitalized for an avoidable condition More likely to skip recommended treatment because of cost More likely to report difficulty in getting care when needed More likely to go bankrupt. In 2000, half of the people who filed for bankruptcy did so because of medical bills and other problems arising from serious illness and injury.

So what are your options?

All young adults regardless of health status or income should look into the variety of health insurance options to see which one minimizes financial and health risks. Taking advantage of WAHA’s free and impartial services is the fastest way to get started.

Give WAHA a call at 788-6594 to find out what options you have and to make the application process easier.  

Young Workers

Talk to your employer about health insurance options. Ask them what they offer, how you can become eligible for benefits, or if they will contribute to a plan that you have chosen. If you are not eligible to be covered by your employer’s or parent’s insurance, Basic Health is often a very affordable option that offers good coverage.

 

Students

Many insurances will not cover dependants after age 23 or after graduation. Fortunately, there are ways for college graduates to invest in their health and prepare for post-graduation drop off:

• During your senior year, talk to your parents about when you will drop off their plan. 
• Plan ahead. Do not wait until your health insurance ends! Many programs that the majority of new graduates are eligible for have a lengthy application process.

 

Parents

Does your child have health insurance? When asked, students on campus said you are the first place they go for health insurance information so consider making time to talk it over with your kids.