The number of Americans aged 19-25 who lack health insurance has dropped 2.5 million, according to a recent analysis from the federal government, The Associated Press reports.
Previous private and government estimates indicated a change of about 1 million, so the more recent figure indicates improvements have been stronger than previously thought. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius attributed the decline in the number of uninsured young adults to a healthcare reform provision that allows them to stay on their parents health insurance coverage until they turn 26.
That was based on the assessment of HHS analysts, according to the news source, who arrived at the figure through more precise calculations than the federal government typically performs. They stated the higher figure is partly the result of the passage of time, which has made more data available than estimates made earlier in the year.
The conclusion that the healthcare law is responsible is supported by other data, such as a slight decrease in the number of young adult Americans covered by Medicare. This indicates they must be getting their coverage elsewhere, such as through parents' employee benefits. The change was considered particularly important because many young workers may be unable to afford private insurance and work in jobs that do not provide health coverage.
