NEW: Government Watchdog Reports College Students Still Struggle to Access Health Coverage
Over 1.6 million students still lack adequate coverage, with historically disadvantaged students the least likely to have coverage.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) unveiled a new report examining how some students continue to struggle to receive adequate health care coverage, although there has been progress made because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
In 2022, over 19 million students were enrolled in nearly 3,900 colleges around the United States. As the cost of living and the cost of college both continue to skyrocket, many college students cannot access quality health care. Although the ACA has increased college students’ health coverage rates from an estimated 81 percent in 2010 to 92 percent in 2022, there are still concerning gaps in coverage.
As of 2022, over 1.6 million students still lack adequate coverage, with historically disadvantaged students the least likely to have coverage. The GAO found that the most significant barriers students were high costs, lack of information, and lack of affordable options in states that did not expand Medicaid.
“College students’ priority should be on school, not worrying about whether they can afford to see a doctor,” said Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce. “Today’s report shows how important access to affordable care is to the health and safety of college students across the country. But instead of expanding coverage, Congressional Republicans are considering making the largest cut to Medicaid in history, forcing college students to pay for the consequences. I urge my colleagues to protect Medicaid and fight back against the Trump Administration’s attacks on students and families. If we work together, we can ensure students have what they need to succeed.”
“In the richest country in the history of the world, it is unacceptable that 1.6 million students lack adequate health coverage and struggle to meet their basic needs,” said Ranking Member Sanders, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. “Instead of handing out more tax breaks to billionaires and slashing health care and education for working families as the Republicans are seeking to do, we have a better idea. Let’s make public colleges and universities tuition free, enact Medicare for All and demand that the wealthiest people in America finally start paying their fair share of taxes."
The GAO demonstrates how programs such as Medicaid are vital to keeping college students healthy. Now, House Republicans are poised to slash Medicaid and gut federal student aid to fund trillions in tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected, which will limit college students’ ability to access health care and higher education. Additionally, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is eliminating staff and resources that support college students at the Department of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS). Without these key personnel and resources, many students will not have the necessary support to stay safe, healthy, and successful in their academic pursuits.
To read the full report entitled, “Higher Education: Students' Health Coverage Rates Have Improved, but Barriers to Coverage Remain for Some,” click here.
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