High school and college students are on a deadline. By 2014, all adults 26 or older will need to have their own health care coverage. Those younger will be able to stay on their parents’ health care plan until they reach that age. However, by the time that they begin to consider buying health care, they may have fewer options left.

In the last few years, fewer people have been able to afford basic health care coverage. In 2009, 46 million U.S. citizens were not insured and 25 million more were underinsured. Health care in the U.S. has taken a backseat because many citizens can’t afford it, including students who both study and work to make ends meet. And some of those who can afford it aren’t able to receive it because of pre-existing conditions.

The problem is that health care reform is focused on helping out those with no health care; it is not necessarily the best option for those with existing coverage. Although it is important that everyone, despite their income, have the chance at an affordable health care plan, it is equally important that citizens have freedom of choice concerning their plan. If consumers allow the government option to drive private companies out of business, they could end up losing that right to choice.

Students have been focused on how the reform will help others who are underprivileged. Many are advocates of health care reform, eager for the possibility of a healthy America. They have not stopped to consider that change in health care policy will affect everyone—including themselves. They need to reorganize their priorities to include themselves.

Students need to start considering where they will turn to for health care in the future. With health care reform creating a new government-run option in addition to private health care, there are many plans to choose from. However, by the time it comes for them to choose their plan, the options may have become either limited, meager or both. As they say, “for everything you gain, you lose something else.” Students may lose their freedom of choice.

The new health care law guarantees that those with pre-existing conditions will not be denied insurance, that tax credits and tax cuts of up to 35 percent are available to those who can’t afford a basic plan and that 48 million uninsured citizens will have a chance to purchase health care. If you so choose, you can stick with your existing insurance. But here is one of the finer details: all citizens must have coverage by 2014 and if they don’t have a plan they will pay a fine that is a small percentage of their income.

This time frame will affect high school students most. Although young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ plan until they’re 26, they have to consider where they will turn after their time is up. It is one option to stick with your private health care, another to turn towards the government plans. The problem is whether private health care will even be on the same level of quality as it is now.

The government plan will probably have options that are much less expensive than private plans. Chances are that many might opt for the government plan because it will work with their budget. Young adults who are studying and working jobs often have smaller incomes compared to an adult who is settled down; the government plan may help out a lot since it is not tied to an employer.

Employees may receive fantastic coverage from their employer. However, those who don’t may drop the insurance they have already when there is a cheaper plan available. There will probably be two options: pay the price for private insurance where, chances are, you might not have the same coverage; or turn to the government.

More people might be interested in this new government plan. Therefore, the private plans might drop their rates in order to compete. As they drop their rates, their quality could decrease in the race to keep up. A plan that is essentially perfect may lose some of its benefits to match the lower price. To get back those other benefits, you might have to pay more than what the price has been lowered to.

In all likelihood, private plans might not be able to compete for long and it’s possible that thousands of people would be out of work as these companies go bankrupt, failing to compete. Thousands would then be forced to accept their only option for health care—the government plan. It isn’t necessarily a terrible prospect. However, one of the basic rights of every American citizen, regardless of age, would be lost if these companies fail: freedom of choice.

The private plans would lose their luster if they lack quality and suddenly the government plan would seem like gold. It might have better coverage and great rates to match. It may be great as well as cheap for a broad range of people, but any options that might have suited citizens with more specific needs or preferences will be gone. People should not have to choose the government option as the result of the lack of alternatives.

All U.S. citizens should have the right to health care; yet, they should also use their power as consumers to reserve the right to choose which plan they want.