Number of young adults aged 19 to 25 who stayed on or joined their parents’ health plans in 2011, including 6.6 million who might not have been covered before the passage of President Obama’s health care law, which requires insurers to allow parents to enroll children up to age 26 on their plans. The survey by the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund also found that a third of young adults had medical debt and that 70% of them endured significant financial fallout to pay off bills, like using up savings, racking up credit card debt or delaying career or educational plans. Nearly 2 in 5 young adults reported a gap in health insurance in 2011, and 41% delayed getting needed medical care. The survey suggests that striking down the health care law, which is currently under review by the Supreme Court, would significantly affect young adults. [via the Commonwealth Fund]
