Young Adults Don't Welcome Health Insurance Mandate

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Young people who don't view health insurance as a priority are wary of health-overhaul legislation now in Congress that would require them to buy it or face a penalty. For instance, "Poor and bludgeoned by debt accrued over four years of college - but otherwise healthy - medical insurance just isn't in the cards for aspiring-artist Joanna Zobjeck," the Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern reports.

The bill requires insurers to cover people with pre-existing conditions, bans them from adjusting prices based on health factors or gender, and limits the amount plans can charge older people - all provisions that will cost insurers. "Young adults are the balance to the new rule, which also forces those least likely to need medical care to participate in a health plan in order to keep prices from inflating" (Rodewald, 11/11).

This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.