College students who are without health insurance now have access to affordable health care. Enrollment for Covered California, the state program of the Affordable Care Act, began yesterday, allowing residents to find health insurance coverage which they may have been denied previously.

One of the options available to college students is to get insurance through Covered California after their previous plans expire or they are no longer covered through a parent’s plan.

Everyone will have “access to quality, affordable health care without fear of being denied for a pre-existing condition, and with financial assistance for those who need it,” said Roy Kennedy, public information officer at Covered California.

Additionally, approval for insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions is not only part of the Covered California program, but is an essential part of the Affordable Care Act itself.

Dr. Brian Olowude, director of Fresno City College Psychological Services, said that the Covered California program will be helpful to students because it provides information regarding the Affordable Care Act.

“The Affordable Care Act has wonderful intentions. I think Covered California is a place to get information and help students make sense of a very confusing though well intentioned law. That information gives them the ability to make informed decisions,” said Olowude.

“Under the Affordable Health Act, young adults will be covered by their parents’ plans up until their 26th birthday,” said Kennedy.  “After that, they will need to obtain insurance.”

According to the insurance calculator, a 19-year-old student living with his/her parents with a family annual income of $32,136 now qualifies for assistance in paying for health insurance through Covered California. The type of package an individual chooses determines his out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles, co-pays and premiums.

In California, single incomes below $11,490 qualify for complete Medi-Cal coverage. A household of two qualifies if the total family income is under $15, 510. For each additional person in the household, an additional $4,020 is added to the qualifying income.

Through Covered California, enrolled persons may apply for financial assistance based on their incomes. This would make health insurance more affordable again and help California residents obtain coverage by the mandated Jan. 1 deadline.

Kathy Gonzales, a 26-year-old graphic design major, does not have health insurance. At first, she was hesitant about signing up under the Affordable Care Act.  She said she had believed that the government should make health insurance mandatory and that even with the reform, “health insurance will still not be affordable.”

After researching the Affordable Care Act and the Covered California program, Gonzales learned about the options for low income households.

“I think that might be applicable to me because I don’t make very much money,” said Gonzales.

Under the ADA, she will be covered for little or no premium, according to information provided by the Covered California Program.  Additionally, a group health plan and a health insurance issuer cannot rescind a plan or coverage “with respect to an enrollee once the enrollee is covered under such plan or coverage involved,” for any reason other than fraud.

Roy Kennedy said he believes the Covered California program will interest a younger demographic because it has made finding and applying for health insurance much easier.

“We anticipate Covered California to be received well by everyone, including students, who are typically young and need affordable insurance,” said Kennedy.  “We hear from people statewide that they have been waiting for good insurance plans at affordable rates for many years.”

Online features, according to Kennedy, will appeal to younger people as they are used to shopping online. Covered California has a “Shop and Compare” tool that allows users to review what plans are available in their area and if they qualify for assistance while estimating what their premium will be each month.

This act also dictates to insurance providers that the premium rates must be fair and judged by a specific criterion whether the plan covers an individual or family, age and tobacco use.

The ACA, according to Kennedy, was passed to help Americans get insurance coverage and better access to medical care, “a basic human right.”