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Health Reform Insured 2.5M Young People

Coverage up among 19- to 25-year-olds, now eligible for parents' insurance

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 14, 2011 12:36 PM CST

(Newser) – Roughly 2.5 million people between the ages of 19 and 25 have gained health insurance since President Obama signed his health care reform bill, more than double the 1 million the White House had been expecting, according to a new administration analysis. The bump is almost entirely due to a provision in a law that allows young people to remain on their parents' coverage until age 26.

Before the law took effect, almost 36% of 19- to 25-year-olds lacked insurance, either because they couldn't find work that offered it to them, or they passed because they didn't think they'd need it. As of the second quarter, that had fallen to 27%. The bad news? The uninsured rate climbed among people aged 26-35 over the same period, according to the AP (see second image).

Chart shows percentage of adults who do not have health insurance, based on a September AP/Gallup poll. (Associated Press)

More young Americans are now covered thanks to the health care reform law. (Shutterstock)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 38 comments

Fatquah

Dec 14, 2011 6:33 PM CST

Paid for by increased premiums to the rest of us. Here's a FACT; NOTHING ever stopped parents from purchasing health insurance for their kids. Hell MY parents paid for mine until I could afford it myself. Neither of us needed a Nanny State to steal the money from others to pay for it.

Antone123

Dec 14, 2011 2:53 PM CST

President Obama's Plan WORKS and no matter how much the Republicans and Fox News spins it. The Fact that it Works can't be hidden. So if you are one of these people that believe the Republicans and Fox News are not trying to bull sh-- you, then just do a little more non objective fact finding on your own. And surprise your self. Good hunting and tally Ho...........

SC23

Dec 14, 2011 1:54 PM CST

I find it diabolically interesting that we have been indoctrinated and it has become the mass consciousness that Health Insurance = Health Care. Think about that for a moment. Are they one in the same? Really? If you talk about denying people Health Insurance, are you really denying them Health Care? If so, we should ask ourselves why. In truth, the issue has two parts, one of control through terror, the second of control through incapability to pay for the service. When stitched together you end up with a shivering mass of people willing to pay or do anything. And there it is in a nutshell, how we have been duped into believing Health Insurance = Health Care. The solution is affordable, sane, compassionate Health Care. What we have come to believe is that it is Health Insurance. And for stock holders, even under a single payer govt system, thats a really good thing. Sick people? well.. thats a necessary evil to be dealt with while making money.

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Health Reform Insured 2.5M Young People

Coverage up among 19- to 25-year-olds, now eligible for parents' insurance

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

health care • health insurance • young adult • health care reform • ObamaCare

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Long arguments will require 'enormous endurance'

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Uninsured ObamaCare Challenger Went Bankrupt

...with $4.5K in unpaid medical bills

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