Health Insurance Coverage for Young Adults Increases Significantly

While the number of uninsured Americans is on the rise, the Affordable Care Act is helping to stem the tide, and new data released today by the National Center of Health Statistics shows that there has been a significant increase in medical coverage for young adults.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 2.5 million more young adults don’t have to live with the fear and uncertainty of going without health insurance,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  “Moms and dads around the country can breathe a little easier knowing their children are covered.”

It’s those moms and dads who are able to keep their children on their policies, thanks to the health care law, which extends the age at which children can stay on their parents’ policies. As of September 2010, parents can continue health care coverage for their children until the age of 26.

According to the report, data from the first three months of 2011 alone showed that 1 million more young adults had insurance coverage compared to a year ago.  The numbers announced today show a continuation of the coverage gains due to the health care law as students graduate from high school and college in May and June and otherwise would have lost coverage. Subsequent studies show similar gains in this age group.

“The data announced today show that, because of the health care law, there is a continued and consistent pattern of improved health coverage among young adults,” said Sherry Glied, Ph.D., HHS assistant secretary for planning and evaluation.  “The Affordable Care Act has helped literally millions of young adults get the health insurance they need so they can begin their careers with the peace of mind that they’re covered.”

When the Census Bureau released its annual report last year on poverty, income, and health insurance, that report, based on 2008 figures, pegged the number of Americans without health insurance coverage at 46.3 million, up from 45.7 million in 2007. Based on those figures, it was predicted that the U.S. would approach the 50 million mark in 2010.

Not surprisingly, the largest uninsured group was aged 18-24, those out of high school, who were not enrolled or under-enrolled in college, unemployed, or working in jobs that do not offer health care coverage. Typically wages earned in this demographic cannot be stretched to buy an individual health insurance policy.

Just another reason that the Affordable Care Act has become a necessity.