New Research Shows Positive Impact of Health Care Reform on Young Adults
As the Affordable Care Act sits on the chopping block before the Supreme Court, it’s becoming increasingly apparent how important the legislation is for young Americans.
New research published this week in Pediatrics magazine reflects significant differences in young people’s ability to get treatment based on whether they’re covered under their parents’ health insurance plans. Since it was signed, the Affordable Care Act has provided such coverage to about 3 million adults under the age of 26.
The researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine based their study on states that had already passed health care laws similar to the Affordable Care Act.
“Our results predict that many more young people will have a personal doctor and regular checkups, and no longer have to go without care due to cost,” said Alex Blum, a doctor and the lead author of the study. “These are critical components to provide health security to young people just when they are starting out on their own.”
The researchers note that they may be underestimating the impact of the Affordable Care Act. The federal law is more robust and meticulous than its state-level counterparts, allowing fewer young people to slip through the cracks and find themselves uncovered.
There are, however, provisions outside of extending parental coverage that benefit young people. Campus Progress previously reported on a study that indicated as many as 17 million young Americans would face losing health insurance coverage if the Supreme Court strikes down the law later this year.
The high court will likely rule on the Affordable Care Act in the next several months.
Graham White is a journalism intern for Campus Progress. You can follow him on Twitter @GrahamWhiteNY.
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