Henry Cuellar

Contact: Jose Borjon or Daniella Martinez 202-225-1640

Washington, Sep 14, 2011 - Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that a provision included in the Affordable Care Act created a significant increase in the number of 18-24 year olds with health insurance in the United States over the past year, according to a report released by the Census Bureau.

Throughout the nation, hundreds of thousands of young adults are reaping the benefits of the healthcare reform law – this provision allows them to remain on their parents’ health insurance plan up to 26 years of age. The Census Bureau report shows that the percentage of young adults with health insurance increased from 70.7 percent in 2009 to 72.8 percent in 2010. Congressman Cuellar attributes the increase to the Affordable Care Act, which boosted this age group’s accessibility to health care coverage. This provision went into effect on September 23, 2010.

“The Affordable Care Act continues to benefit Americans, especially young adults, who can now be secure in knowing that they will not be burdened with excessive healthcare costs should they get sick,” Congressman Cuellar said. “It is reassuring that as the youth enter college or start their first job, they will not have to worry about being uninsured. As more provisions of the law go into effect and more Americans seek to obtain health insurance, this law will continue to offer meaningful and positive impacts.”

Excerpts of the report released by the Census Bureau are below:

The Census Bureau released data on health insurance coverage and the uninsured for 2010 on September 13, 2011.  Although there are four major government surveys that produce estimates of health insurance coverage, the Current Population Survey is the most widely cited and receives national media attention.

Young adults are the age group least likely to have health insurance. However, 18-24 year olds were the only age group to experience a significant increase in the percentage with health insurance over the past year, from 70.7% in 2009 to 72.8% in 2010. This is a two percentage point increase in the share of adults 18-24 with coverage and represents 500,000 more young adults with health insurance.

The Affordable Care Act allows children to remain on their parents’ plans until age 26, and this policy took effect for insurance plan renewals beginning on September 23, 2010. Given that the fraction with health coverage was stable or decreasing in other groups, the two percentage point increase in share with health coverage among 18-24 year olds almost certainly reflects the effects of the extension of dependent coverage to age 26.  

To view the full report released by the Census Bureau, click here.