Health Care Is a Confusing Rite of Passage For Young Americans
When a young adult turns 21, the options are many: stay on their parents’ health plan until they turn 26, enroll in an employer-sponsored health plan, or purchase insurance on the state’s health insurance market. Low-income Americans up to 138% of the federal poverty level can qualify for Medicaid, a government program that provides free health care for low-income individuals and families, and affordable health care for pregnant women and low-income adults. Many employers offer open registration periods, but timing varies by company.
Getting health insurance
As a young adult, you may be considering your options and the benefits of a health insurance plan. Many low-income young adults can get free or very low-cost coverage through Medicaid, a federal program for low-income Americans. In most states, there are also open enrollment periods, and many employers offer health plans. The timing of these periods varies from company to company.
Structure
The process of getting health insurance is one of the most important transitions in a person’s life, and for young Americans, it can be a confusing rite of passage. It is a time when a person is stepping out of their parents’ care and into the world. They are no longer young children who need their parents’ care, but they have their own health needs that are unique to them.
Unmet support
There is a significant gap in the provision of preventive and clinical services for young people, particularly those with mental health problems. Yet adolescents and young adults often have a desire to discuss health issues with their health care providers. The goal of this study was to determine the factors that influence the provision of unmet needs in health care. This study used a nationally representative survey of AYA to identify unmet health care needs across four salient topics.
Nature
For young Americans, health care is an uncharted territory. It’s not like going to summer camp. It’s a life-changing challenge. It’s an important transition from a kid to a young adult. But what’s the process like?
ACA coverage
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a major piece of health reform, and it makes it easier for young Americans to get health insurance. In particular, the law requires insurers to offer coverage to children until they turn 26 years old. This includes both children who live with their parents and students who are no longer in school. The new law also requires insurers to offer this coverage to young adults whose parents don’t have coverage. These changes will increase premiums for average families, but they will allow 1.2 million young Americans to obtain coverage.
