43,000 Wisconsin Young Adults Gain Health Coverage Due To Obamacare

Continues climb from original 27,511 that gained coverage as of June 2011

Madison – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that the number of insured young adults has increased in Wisconsin and nationwide as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as health reform or Obamacare. The law allows young adults up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ insurance plans.

The new findings show that a total of 43,000 young adults in Wisconsin and 3.1 million nationwide gained coverage between September 23, 2010 (when the provision took effect) and December 2011. Last December, HHS issued a similar report showing that 2.5 million nationwide had gained coverage due to the law, including 27,511 Wisconsin young adults, through June 2011.

“We’re excited that so many here in Wisconsin are benefiting from health reform’s provision allowing parents to keep their kids on their insurance until age 26. Our hope is that as more learn about the law, more will take advantage of it,” said Doug Hill, director of Know Your Care Wisconsin. “As a parent myself, I know this part of health reform is giving a great deal of comfort to parents who no longer have to worry about their kids’ health at a time when they are just getting settled into adult life.”

The ACA policy allowing young adults up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ insurance even if they are attending school, married, not living with the parent, or not financially dependent on the parent. Many can do so even if they are eligible to enroll in an employer’s plan. More about the provision can be found at: www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/08/young-adults.html.