The healthcare overhaul that happened in Congress this year has many benefits for youth. 

• It means that more youth will have insurance coverage regardless of income by expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  
• It means that young adults can stay on their parent’s insurance until they’re 26, a change which will support many young professionals in finding meaningful employment even if that employer isn’t able to offer health coverage immediately -- more than two million young people will benefit from this – including me.  This provision is the only reason I have health insurance right now, I have a job where my employer can’t afford to pay for health insurance.  Thankfully, through this provision, I have a few years to stay on my parent’s insurance until I can get a job that does provide health insurance.  
• This healthcare bill also means that health insurance companies cannot deny coverage to any child because of a pre-existing condition.  It means more funding for community health centers that make good medical care available across income levels.

 While the healthcare reform legislation had many good provisions, it didn’t solve every problem and could still go further.  There are more than eight million uninsured children in America – that is one in ten.  Every 42 seconds a child is born uninsured.  Health care costs for working families are still high, making it difficult to afford insurance or access to timely care.

As a KFTC member, I believe in a single-payer system –that sets up an affordable healthcare system that is based on need, and not ability to pay.  A single-payer system – similar to the Medicare system – would mean that one entity, our government, would collect all healthcare fees and put out all healthcare costs.  This alone reduces administrative waste and saves money, which can be used to provide and insurance to those who currently don’t have it.

Jack Conway and Rand Paul are talking about healthcare – and on this issue there seems to be a real difference between the two.  Rather than talking about improving upon the healthcare legislation that passed, Rand Paul is calling for the repeal of the law – and says the “free market” will bring healthcare to almost all of us.  Jack Conway, however, supports the healthcare reform that passed and wants to improve upon it. – one example he gave is about helping control the cost of prescription drugs.

Regardless of where the candidates stand, one thing is clear – healthcare came a long way when reform was passed this past March.  However, lots more still needs to done to make sure that everyone who needs and deserves healthcare, can have it.