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by LAUREN LAWSON
News Reporter
The economy has again had an impact on citizens and statistics involving health coverage in North Carolina.
The state’s rate of uninsured people has increased by 32,000 to almost 1.8 million since 2007, according to a study from the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Service Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The study also found that more than 20 percent of the state’s non-elderly population is without health insurance coverage.
According to the study, the increase in unemployment is one reason for the increase in uninsured—while nationally, employer-sponsored health insurance has dropped at a rate of 6.8 percent, in North Carolina it has dropped by 12.5 percent.
College students
may not think they need to worry about this because they are usually
covered by their parent’s health insurance or they have access to
certain health care through their universities.
However,
students will not be covered by these same means forever, and will
eventually have to find a way to provide their own health insurance,
which comes at a high price.
Junior global studies major Michaela E. Toll worries about her health coverage after graduating.
“I take prescription drugs daily,” Toll said. “If I wasn’t covered under my parents I would not be able to afford them.”
She would be flexible in moving outside the state to find work.
“I want to be a teacher and they are needed everywhere,” Toll said.
She would prefer if healthcare was nationalized in the United States.
“It might not be the best option but it’s better than the current plan, where drug companies control everything,” Toll said.
According
to a press release alongside the study by NCIOM, President and CEO Pam
Silberman said North Carolina has taken steps to address the issue of
uninsured in the state.
The N.C.
General Assembly appropriated funding for community health center
grants and to strengthen the health care safety net in 2007.
They
also appropriated funding to create a high-risk pool, and Governor
Beverly Perdue has taken steps to expand N.C. Health Choice coverage
for children, according to the press release.
“Despite
these steps currently more than 186,000 kids are eligible for Medicaid
or N.C. Health Choice, but are not enrolled,” Silberman said.
In
NCIOM’s report, they included 17 recommendations to increase access to
health care in hopes of helping policy makers and state leaders address
uninsured rates in North Carolina.
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