Under the ACA, Insurance Coverage for Young Adults Grew Most Among Hispanics and Blacks

Health insurance coverage for Hispanics and blacks between the ages of 19 and 25 increased by more than 14 percent as provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect between 2010 and 2014, an AHRQ study found. Young adults traditionally have the highest rates of uninsurance among all age groups and many, especially racial/ethnic minorities, are less able to afford large out-of-pocket medical expenses. AHRQ researchers measured the effect of ACA insurance expansions, including the requirement that insurers offer coverage to young adults up to age 26 under their parents’ plan, the expansion of Medicaid coverage in participating states and the creation of state and federal insurance marketplaces. More than 120,000 responses from young adults to the National Health Interview Survey showed that after the 2014 expansion, coverage increased by 11 percent for Hispanics, by 10.1 percent for blacks and 5.6 percent among whites. The study appeared in Medical Care Research and Review. Access the abstract.