Sophomore philosophy major Dominic Martyne was hurled to the American health care system in 2004 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system and lymph nodes.
At that time, George W. Bush was reelected for his second term in office.
Four years later, Martyne's debt has increased, along with his interest with the health care issue. With a change in the presidency in six days, Martyne hopes health care policy will follow suit.
Almost 30 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds are uninsured, while close to 27 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds have no health insurance, according to the 2006 U.S. census statistics.
From 2000 to 2007, health insurance premiums rose 98 percent, outpacing the 23 percent increase in the average worker's wage during the same period, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a group focusing on the health care issues facing the U.S.
"I'm waiting for a candidate to step in and help with medical bills since, in addition, I have to pay for college," Martyne said. "Currently, I'm still trying to learn more about the issue and the candidates' stances. Being a student makes it hard to pay it off."
Landon Gibbs, co-founder of Shout America, a national group that aims to raise awareness about the American health care system, said he doesn't think Americans are aware of the seriousness of the nations' health care spending.
In 1970 America's health care costs were $74.9 billion. In 2008, spending increased to $2.4 trillion - an increase of more than 3,000 percent, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2007 America's health care spending would represent the world's seventh largest economy, according to the same department.
"To understand how large of a number [$2.4 trillion] is, think about it like this," Gibbs said, "One million seconds ago was a little more than 11 days ago. One billion seconds ago was about 32 years ago. But 1 trillion seconds ago is goes back to more than 31,000 years ago."
Gibbs said the current system was not well-constructed when it was developed during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. As a result, current students will be faced with the largest burden, he added.
"Consensus is emerging about the issue," Gibbs said. "The system itself really isn't a system at all. There was never a full health care system designed and that's what we are seeing in the national scene. It's hurting Americans across the country, and it's at the tipping point."
The presidential candidates have made health care reform one of the primary issues of debate on the campaign trail.
Democratic candidate Barack Obama's plan would also build on the existing health care system by using the existing providers, doctors and plans.
According to Obama'sWeb site, his plan would require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions and give tax credits to small businesses to help them provide affordable health insurance to employees.
The plan would cover a portion of businesses' health costs in return for lower premiums. It would also establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with insurance options including one based on the benefits available to members of Congress.
Republican nominee John McCain wants to make it easier for individuals and families to obtain insurance.
The McCain plan would promote competition to improve the quality of health insurance with greater variety to match people's needs and lower costs. In addition, the Arizona Senator would give families a tax credit of $5,000 and give individuals $2,500.
Sophomore accounting major Josh Kline admitted he is on his parents health care and said many of his peers are probably in a similar situation.
"Most people are just spoiled by their parents health care," Kline said. "We're spending all this money and some people that need health care still aren't getting it."
Gibbs said young people need to start educating themselves right away. Because it's such a huge issue, something must start immediately, he said.
"We need to make a difference until it's too late, and we are very close to being too late right now," Gibbs said. "I'm not too sure we're not already there."
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