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MANAGED CARE September 2007. ©MediMedia USA
News and Commentary
Young and uninsured — a looming problem
Adults between 19 and 29 are one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the U.S. population that lack health insurance, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund. Young adults lose coverage at 19 or upon high school or college graduation, and nearly 40 percent of college graduates and 50 percent of high school graduates who do not enroll in college will be uninsured for a time during the year after graduation. In addition, the jobs available to young adults are typically low-wage or temporary and generally do not come with health benefits. Lack of coverage can affect young adults financially, putting them and their families at risk.
Bob Hurley, senior vice president of eHealthInsurance.com, says getting young adults to overcome the invincibility factor and see the value of insurance is difficult. "We try to reach them through the Internet, through social networking sites like MySpace.com," says Hurley.
Percent of adults ages 19–29 reporting problems during the past year because of cost
Source: "Rite of passage? Why young adults become uninsured and how new policies can help." The Commonwealth Fund.