Access to Coverage for Young Adults

Young adults often have a hard time getting affordable health insurance.  Some go into jobs that don’t offer health benefits, some can’t afford it, and some are denied it because they have a pre-existing condition.  Those days are coming to an end.  The Affordable Care Act will require insurers to allow young adults under age 26 to get health coverage through their parents, starting this fall – helping millions of young adults to get insurance.

But Secretary Sebelius isn’t waiting –she sent a letter urging insurers to allow young adults under age 26 to keep their coverage now. Many insurers have agreed to do just that. This is great news for many college students, who risk losing their health insurance when they graduate this spring and summer. What’s more, the Affordable Care Act raises the age for children who can be covered tax-free on their parents' health insurance policy.

To help you understand what this means for you, here are some resources that will give more information:

• Fact sheet on how the Affordable Care Act offers young adults greater control over their health care
  
• Letter from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius encouraging insurers to provide coverage for college graduates in advance of the required date of September 23
  
• Growing list of insurers agreeing to implement the provision before September 23
  
• Fact sheet on the new IRS guidance for covering young adults
  
• New guidance from the IRS stating that children can be covered tax-free on their parents’ insurance policy.