It's no secret that for young adults, health insurance coverage is often not a top priority. It's usually because for young adults, health insurance is hard to get. It can be too expensive to buy on the individual market. Many times it is not offered as a benefit for many entry-level jobs. But the facts are clear: 47 percent of young people have gone without health insurance at some point in the last year; only half of employed young people have insurance options through their jobs; and 2 out of every 3 young adults go without needed care because of the price.
Health care reform gave young adults a whole new insurance option - the choice to stay on their parents' insurance plan until their 26th birthday. Republicans in Congress just yesterday voted to repeal this provision, and all other provisions of the Affordable Care Act. These young adults, many of whom recently graduated from school and are looking for employment in today's challenging economy, would now be forced to get coverage on their own, or just go without.
Last year, 1.2 million young adults were able to gain coverage by joining their parent's plans. In the next few years, up to 2.4 million young adults are estimated to gain coverage through this provision - 1.8 million of whom would otherwise be uninsured. Under repeal, these young adults would instead be left to fend for themselves.
I have heard from my constituents on this issue. They want to have the peace of mind that their adult children have health insurance coverage, and I strongly oppose repeal for this reason, among others. One mother wrote to me thankful that her 23 year old daughter, who has a number of health issues and is searching for a job, is now covered under her mother's health insurance plan. She wrote, "I thank President Obama and the Democratic congress that passed health care legislation EVERYDAY for the gift of health they have given my child." And that is why I will continue to fight efforts to repeal this landmark reform.