The College Democrats met at 11 a.m. Nov. 15 in CU1 to converse about the recent ideas and future goals concerning health care and what it means to students.

Club President Kenneth Meador said, as of current standing, the United States houses 46 to 50 million people that do not have any type of coverage, which is 15 to 20 percent of the population.

“I do not care if this means an immediate rise to the cost of healthcare,” Meador said. “I care if adults and children get the coverage they need.”

He said that over 50 percent of bankruptcies U.S. citizens currently experiencing are a result of expensive health care and the issue lies with firm’s terms and limits.

“People become sick and have to take time off from work to receive care, then they can be fired for missing work, in which they lose their care altogether,” Meador said.

He said that the new bill will help many types of people with different conditions, whether they are pre-existing or circumstantial, and aid all ages.

“Children are being turned away for health issues such as asthma, and once these new legislatures are in effect, these companies would not be allowed to deny coverage,” Meador said.

He said the bill has already been passed once in the House of Representatives and the Senate, but will be up for discussion again to agree upon terms and even a possible repeal.

A student added that he does not believe President Obama will comply with anything that is not within the central idea of what the bill stands for.

“The bill will inflict penalties if a person has not retained a policy by Jan. 1, 2014, and it is based on their personal income,” Meador said. “If you make no money you will pay nothing, and if you make very little you will pay a small fine.”

He said the package will help senior citizens with their price of prescriptions while closing the “Donut Gap,” which would promote lowering the price of medication.

“This is something that effects everyone,” Meador said. “And in the long run hopefully it will be a wise economic choice for out country.”

He said that health care is not an issue that will be solved overnight, but it is important that we make strides to find a beneficial outcome so citizens can begin to receive the coverage they deserve.

For more information on healthcare reform, visit www.healthcare.gov.