What a shocker! Young people like Obamacare: Column
What a shocker! Young people like Obamacare: Column
Aaron Smith 3:41 p.m. EST January 15, 2014
New HHS numbers show those under the age of 35 care about getting coverage.
First it was, we think we are invincible. Then it was that the penalty was too low, or that we would be turned off by website glitches. After the Department of Health and Human Services released its initial age breakdown enrollment data Monday, it is time to finally put the pessimism to rest. Young people are enrolling in health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act, and for good reason — being covered is essential to their economic security.
On Monday, the Department of Health & Human Services announced that 30% of Obamacare's 2.2 million private insurance enrollees are under the age of 35. More specifically 24% of enrollees are between the ages of 18- and 34-years-old. In other words, the exchanges have a percentage of young adult enrollees that is comparableto their proportion of the overall population. All the evidence suggests that youth enrollment will only go up as we get closer to the deadline.
We are ecstatic to see young people enrolling at such a fast clip this early on in the enrollment process — but we're not surprised. Polls have consistently shown that this generation wants coverage. To give some context, the average income for an uninsured 25-year-old is about $17,800. In the post-ACA world, that same individual can get a silver plan for about $63 a month, with a reduced deductible, thanks to new tax credits and cost sharing subsidies. In fact, the vast majority of young adults will have plans available for under $100 a month. Those making below about $16,000 a year could even qualify for free coverage under Medicaid. These new options create a new day in health care for young people.
We are confident that young adult enrollment rates will continue to surge — as was the case in December — in the months ahead. A recent survey by the Commonwealth Fund found that 41% of federal and state health insurance marketplace visitors were between the ages of 19 and 34, suggesting that many young adults might still be checking out their options.
More:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/01/14/obamacare-website-enrollment-young-people-column/4475161/
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one of my biggest worries, after how to make rent each month on my shitty minimum-wage job, was 'what if I get sick?'
If we had had the ACA back then, I would have jumped on it!
That and they also don't want anything or anybody ruining their ability to undermine government whenever and however they can. As far as "vote-pandering" goes, I guess the idea that there are people- primarily in the Democratic Party- that actually care about people and want to help then is completely foreign to them? What kind of homes did they grow up in? I thought that Jesus was all about helping people and stuff? 
