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Extending Health Coverage for Young Adults Could Save theGovernment...

In these tough economic times, the only thing more difficult for young adults than getting a job is finding one that offers health insurance. Unable to secure a job that provides coverage, millions of young adults find themselves ineligible for Medicaid and incapable of affording private insurance, leaving them vulnerable to tremendous financial and health risks. SHOUTAmerica, a non-profit focused on engaging young Americans in healthcare reform, feels they have a solution to increase access to healthcare for young adults while potentially saving the government billions of dollars.

SHOUTAmerica proposes to cover millions of young Americans by redefining dependent status to a national standard of age 26, regardless of student or employment status. By doing so, over two million young adults currently living with their parents, and millions more living on their own, would instantly have access to affordable healthcare through their parents's current plans. At present, the age limit for dependent status is largely defined by states, allowing for tremendous variation. Moreover, with universal coverage on the horizon, allowing young adults to stay on their family plans could save the government between $6 to $10 billion in subsidies annually.

With over 13.2 million uninsured individuals, adults ages 19-29 are the largest and fastest growing segment of the population without health insurance, explains SHOUTAmerica Executive Director Landon Gibbs.According to studies by the Commonwealth Fund, this is mainly an issue of affordability. Young Americans are being forced to make the choice between paying for daily necessities and obtaining health insurance. In fact, 72% of uninsured young adults have annual incomes less than $21,660, which, with the average premium of an individual plan coming in at nearly a fourth of that total, makes private insurance virtually unaffordable.

Brent Parton, a graduate student and associate of SHOUTAmerica, experienced the problem of unaffordable health insurance firsthand upon graduation from college. We need a healthcare coverage plan more in line with current and emerging economic realities, emphasizes Parton. But for now, it makes sense to help fill the gaps by allowing the option of remaining on our current insurance plans until we can obtain our own affordable coverage.

Measures to extend this status have already passed in some states, but SHOUTAmerica hopes to set a national standard through federal legislation. Meanwhile, they are also asking Governors to change legislation state by state. SHOUTAmerica makes a point to say that while this is not the entire solution to the access problem for young adults, they believe that by allowing young individuals to stay on their existing insurance plans, they can provide relief and save the government billions in subsidies.

To find out more about this campaign, visit SHOUTAmerica.org (http://www.shoutamerica.org).

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