Months after college seniors have received their diplomas, they could find themselves without health insurance.

The Commonwealth Fund reported in May 2008 that, “38 percent of high school graduates who do not attend college and 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation.”

With the current recession, there are fewer opportunities for college graduates to secure a job that offers health insurance.

USA Today reported in September 2009 that health care is costs more than $2 trillion annually.

The rising cost of health insurance is becoming an issue for people between the ages of 19 and 29.

“The health care issue is a bleak outlook when you will be graduating in a year or two. That might be me too. It is scary," said Mason Brown, junior in applied health sciences.

Any person could acquire a critical illness or injury that demands medical treatment, said David Lawrence, Medical Director of McKinley Health Center.

“Personally, if I did not have health insurance, even though I am employed as a physician, I would probably have to get a loan from a bank if I required more than a day’s stay in the hospital. Most Americans are unable to individually afford the medical care that they require for anything more than routine office visits or simple procedures,” Lawrence said.

Many young adults choose not to buy health insurance because they are not ill, he said.

There are options for people between the ages of 20 and 29 who are unemployed but want health insurance.

Unemployed individuals should look at joining professional organizations or unions, or working with a temporary job agency that will allow them to be a part of a large group insurance policy, said Margaret Lewin, general internist and medical director of Cinergy Health, which provides health care.

A large group insurance policy means the premium, or the insurance payment, will be less expensive than smaller group or individual policies, Lawrence said.

An insurance plan that covers a large group of people is cheaper because insurance companies are able to precisely predict the medical costs the group will have, he said.

Lawrence said that a person looking for health insurance should ask the following question.

“How much will the plan pay per occurrence or per lifetime? Thirty thousand dollars per occurrence may sound good, but that might pay for less than a week in a hospital. A $100,000 lifetime benefit may sound good for a policy you expect to have for only four years, but a major accident or illness can cost several hundred thousand dollars. A cheap policy may max out too soon," he said.

People must also consider the doctors in the network offered by the insurance plan, the deductible and the exclusions listed in the plan.

Individuals with a preexisting condition should look for a policy that will cover their condition, Lewin said.

Certain companies will not insure people with preexisting conditions; while other companies will offer insurance, but will not pay for any expenses involving that condition, she said.

For graduating students of the University, they are able to continue to pay for the student insurance plan that is offered by the school.

The student insurance plan allows graduating students to buy up to two semesters worth of insurance, Lawrence said.

“Most people don’t require a Cadillac health insurance plan and most people should avoid the cheapest plans. There’s a sweet spot somewhere in the middle," he added.