Health Reform to Cover Most Young Adults by 2014

Oct. 10, 2010— -- More than 12 million of the nation's 15 million uninsured young adults ages 19 to 29 may be able to get health insurance in 2014 as a result of the healthcare reform law, according to a report released Friday by the Commonwealth Fund.

"By providing multiple insurance options for young adults at key life transition points, including graduation from high school and college, the law will significantly reduce both the short- and long-term gaps in health insurance that have historically plagued this age group at all income levels," wrote Sara Collins and Jennifer Nicholson, both of the Commonwealth Fund.

The number of uninsured young adults rose from 13.7 million in 2008 to 14.8 million in 2009. In addition, 5 million insured 20-somethings have very high out-of-pocket costs, leaving them effectively underinsured, the authors noted.

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Citing the Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults, Collins and Nicholson noted two key points at which young adults lose coverage: when they turn 19 -- aging out of dependent coverage as a high school student or under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) -- and when they graduate from college.

The authors listed several provisions in the Affordable Care Act that will increase the number of young adults with health insurance and when each provision takes effect: