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Health system reform expected to benefit young adults

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 6, 2011

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Young adults are the least likely to have insurance and most likely will benefit significantly from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a report issued May 26 by the Commonwealth Fund.

"This is not an easy time for young adults," said Sara Collins, PhD, lead author and Commonwealth Fund vice president. "They are struggling to find employment in a difficult job market and are among the groups hardest hit by rising health care costs."

About 14.8 million people ages 19 to 29 were uninsured in 2009. Since Sept. 23, 2010, about 600,000 have become insured, because health system reform requires insurers providing dependent coverage do so up to age 26.

The report indicated that an additional 7.2 million young adults most likely would gain Medicaid coverage, and 4.9 million would become insured through state insurance exchanges, as these parts of reform are rolled out during the next few years.

The Commonwealth Fund report is available online (link).

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/06/06/bibf0606.htm.

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