Last updated on: 10/24/2012 | Author: ProCon.org

Does Obamacare Apply to Health Plans Offered by Colleges and Universities? – YES

General Reference (not clearly pro or con)

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Section 1560, “Rules of Construction,” page 144, signed into law on Mar. 23, 2010, available at the Library of Congress website, states:

“(c) STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS.–Nothing in this title (or an amendment made by this title) shall be construed to prohibit an institution of higher education (as such term is defined for purposes of the Higher Education Act of 1965) from offering a student health insurance plan, to the extent that such requirement is otherwise permitted under applicable Federal, State or local law.”

Mar. 23, 2010 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590)

PRO (yes)

Pro

The US Department of Health and Human Services stated in its Feb. 9, 2011 press release “New Rule Ensures Students Get Health Insurance Protections of the Affordable Care Act,” available at www.hhs.gov:

“A new proposed regulation announced today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would ensure students enrolled in health insurance coverage through their college or university benefit from critical consumer protections created by the Affordable Care Act. Students enrolled in college plans would have the freedom from worrying about losing their insurance, or having it capped unexpectedly if they are in an accident or become sick…

The proposed regulation would ensure students enrolled in these plans benefit from important consumer protections created by the Affordable Care Act by clarifying that these plans will be defined as ‘individual health insurance coverage.'”

Pro

The White House stated in its Mar. 19, 2012 document “The Affordable Care Act Helps Young Adults,” available at its website:

“The new health care law replaces the patchwork system of regulating student health plans, helping ensure that students enrolled in these plans benefit from important consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act, including preventive services. The new law also helps students better understand what their student health covers, and what other insurance options may be available…

The new law also restricts the use of annual limits, including on student health plans and bans them completely in 2014.”

CON (no)

Con

[Editor’s Note: Based upon a neutral reading of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and bi-partisan third party analysis, this question seems to have a clear and obvious Pro (yes) answer, and ProCon.org has therefore presented the responses in a single column with no opposing perspective.]