Young Adults Largest, Fasting Growing Segment of Uninsured Population

A Commonwealth Fund report shows that young adults are the largest, fastest growing segment of our uninsured population. Young adults represent 17% of the under-65 population, but 30% of the total uninsured non-elderly population in the U.S. Fewer young adults are eligible for their employer's health plan, and fewer of those who are eligible enroll, because the cost is prohibitive for someone just starting out in the workforce. Also, many insurers, including state Medicaid programs, drop coverage for children once they turn 18 or 19, unless they are in college. The Commonwealth Fund believes that allowing young adults to remain on their parents' health insurance plans for a longer period of time will give them a fairer chance to obtain coverage on their own later, when they have established themselves in the workforce and are fully independent.