WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark (D-CA) today issued the following statements after two surveys - from the National Center for Health Statistics and Gallup - showed that the new health care law has significantly reduced the number of young adults without insurance by allowing them to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans. The National Center for Health Statistics data shows nearly 1 million more young Americans with health insurance during the first three months of the year. The Gallup poll shows that the percentage of 18-25 year olds without insurance dropped from 28 percent last fall to 24.2 percent this summer. The new law allows most young adults to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until age 26.
View the National Center for Health Statistics data
View the Gallup Poll
Rep. Levin: “Every parent worries about the health and wellbeing of their kids and today’s news provides powerful evidence that the new health law is already having a significant impact in helping young adults get insurance. Young workers have been hit hard by the jobs crisis, making it all the more important that young adults be allowed to obtain insurance through their parents’ coverage. The coverage the new health law provides protects the nation’s young adults from falling into crushing debt should they find themselves in a sudden medical emergency."
Rep. Stark: “Prior to health reform, young adults had the lowest rate of insurance coverage, putting them and their families at risk of financial ruin should an accident or unexpected illness occurs. Today's data show that thanks to health reform, one million young Americans can now put this worry to rest. In our sluggish economy when a job -- much less one with health benefits -- is difficult to come by, that's especially meaningful peace of mind."
