For Young Adults: There Really Are Affordable Alternatives to High-Cost Health Insurance Plans
Shannon McCarthy
| 2 min read
If you’re just getting ready for college graduation, there are a lot of things to be excited about, but chances are, health insurance isn’t one of them. Young adults between the ages of 19 and 25 make up nearly one-fifth of the nation’s uninsured. As most young adults make their way into their mid-to-late 20s, the numbers get worse. For 26-to-34-year-olds the number jumps to 21 percent, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. The likelihood of being uninsured varies by state, but one of the most common reasons cited is cost.
Managing Risk
The combination of good health and high debt keeps most young adults from considering health insurance. With mounting bills from student loans, credit cards, cell phone, cable and Internet usage, the last thing on the minds of many young adults is their health. But having health insurance is important at every age. The Kaiser study cited above found that uninsured adults are “more than twice as likely to delay or forgo needed care as the insured.” Delaying any type of care, including preventive, can be detrimental to your overall health. And what about accidents? They can happen to anyone at any time. For someone without health insurance the costs of treatment can be catastrophic. For example, if an uninsured patient seeks treatment for a concussion, an X-ray of the brain alone can cost around $1,450.
We Listened to You: Young Adult Plans For Under $100 a Month
This year we introduced a new product for young adults aged 19 to 30 called Young Adult Blue MaxSM. The product offers medical plus preventive dental and vision coverage for under $100 a month. Young Adult Blue Max also includes an accidental injury deductible waiver, offering health care coverage that will protect you in the event of an accidental injury. And for under $100 a month, you can finally have quality health care coverage at a cost that won’t break your budget. For more information about Young Adult Blue Max, visit bcbsm.com/youngadult. Photo Credit: NidaIM
