If there continues to be a small number of young people buying health insurance through the federal or state-run insurance exchanges, the chances of the so-called "death spiral" taking place become that much more real, according to an economist expert on health care matters.
John Goodman, a financial expert and president of the nonprofit think tank National Center for Policy Analysis, told CNSNews.com that with less than two months to go before March 7 – the deadline in which the government aims to insure 7 million Americans who don't already have employee benefits – there are still way too few young people who have bought plans.
"Part of the problem, I think, is that it's been so difficult for people to sign up," said Goodman. "So the only ones who've persevered – sometimes trying a hundred times – are people who really have serious health problems."
He added that younger, healthier people need to enroll in order to cover the costs of those who are sicker, thus requiring more treatment services. However, if millions don't sign up, it could signal the death spiral – where premiums rise for everyone, thus leading to fewer individuals securing health plans.
"Over half of all the people who enrolled are above the age of 45," Goodman told the news source, which is conservative-leaning. "Older people are more expensive [to insure]."
In early January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed the latest enrollment numbers, showing that 2.2 million Americans had selected qualified health plans. However, less than one-quarter of these sign-ups were 34 years of age and younger – the demographic that tends to be the healthiest.
