HealthCare.gov had heavy traffic Monday in the final day for enrollment, with more than 125,000 people on the system at one time and 7 million total by the end of the day, The Associated Press reported.
Nationally, 6 million people had signed up before the weekend, according to the AP, but the Obama administration has not said how many of those 6 million were previously uninsured.
Millions are eligible for deadline extensions, whether because of missing information or website glitches. The government is accepting paper applications until Monday.
One provision of the law that directly affects college students is the part that enables people to stay on their parents’ coverage until age 26, said Larry Cistrelli, director of Risk Management at Ball State.
According to the AP, 26 percent of those who selected plans during the first five months of enrollment were young adults between the ages of 18 and 34. That same age group makes up 40 percent of potential enrollees.
Young adults are a targeted demographic because they are healthier than older people and having them pay into the system may help keep premiums down.
President Barack Obama tried to appeal to young adults with his appearance on Zach Galifianakis’ webshow “Between Two Ferns.”
Obama encouraged young adults to visit the health care exchange, stating they can find coverage at a similar cost to a phone bill.
Cistrelli said he has fielded some questions from students about the Affordable Care Act, but the university does not promote one insurance company above another. The Department of Finance, Risk Management, and Insurance sends out emails about health care to students, as well.
“I’ve gotten a few calls [about the health insurance marketplace],” he said. “But unlike the navigators, our information is generally limited. [My office tells students] it’s out there, look at that as an option.”
Ball State offers students a domestic health insurance plan through Collegiate Risk Management, but Cistrelli said less than 50 students are enrolled in the program.
“There has been a gradual drop off [in enrollment of the program] as students were savvy enough to look at other options and possibilities,” he said. “Students are consumers, if you do research you can find something less expensive or other options.”
He said student health plans like the one Ball State makes available were exempt from provisions of the Affordable Care Act, but some insurance companies are discontinuing such programs.
As of now, Ball State will still provide the program as a health care option for the next academic year, Cistrelli said.
Other schools, like Indiana University, offer information to students through local volunteers that offer information about the Affordable Care Act.
Pete Grogg, executive director of Indiana University Health Center, said the Affordable Care Act Volunteers of Monroe County supply health insurance information to the IU health center.
“Usually, at the beginning of every semester, we have billing people talk to incoming students and international students,” Grogg said. “We have drop-in service and programs to figure out what insurance students can get.”
Aimee Janssen-Robinson, Indiana State University associate director for wellness, said health care brochures are available in print and online at ISU.
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