Young adults have long been the group most likely to be uninsured, but thanks to ObamaCare there are nearly a million fewer uninsured young adults since the 2010 law began allowing parents to cover them as dependents on family policies.
Three new surveys released this week show that the gains have occurred despite the recession and the fact young adults are unemployed at nearly double the rate of older Americans.
Under the Affordable Care Act, which has been roundly vilified by Republicans who have challenged it in several court cases, and a few Democrats, as well, parents are able to cover dependents on their health insurance policies up to their 26th birthdays. In the past, children typically lost coverage at age 18 or 21 or when they left college.
The provision is one of several measures in the health law designed as a stopgap until 2014, when the number of uninsured is expected to drop dramatically because preexisting condition exclusions will be eliminated for adults, Medicaid eligibility will be expanded and government subsidies will make private coverage more affordable.
This, of course, is provided that the law is not struck down by the Supreme Court or repealed by Congress.