In 2009, the number of uninsured young adults climbed to 18.9 million people, which is about one third of the total uninsured population. We got involved in the health care debate with a simple premise: the status quo is broken for young people and young people should have a voice in how it gets fixed.
The facts are not disputable. Young adults are among the most uninsured people in the country. We often go without insurance because we are out of work, have a job with an employer that doesn’t cover us, are transitioning from school or from one job to another, can’t afford it, or have a pre-existing condition that makes getting insurance – affordable or otherwise – impossible. Any credible reforms would need to reduce gaps in coverage, make coverage more affordable, and improve the quality of care.
There is broad agreement that the system is busted. In fact, members of both political parties and people across the political spectrum have gone to great lengths to demonstrate that they understand the problem and want to address it. Of course, there is far less agreement about how to fix the system.
More importantly, young Americans of all political stripes – right, left, red, blue, green, pink, independent, indifferent, other – think that passing health care reform is important. A December 2009 report from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that a whooping 88% of young Americans – nearly 9 out of every 10 – think it is important that Congress and the Administration “provide affordable health insurance to all and improve health care overall.” That includes 98 percent of young people who identify themselves as Democrats, 73 percent of Republicans, and 88 percent of independents. This has always been a non-partisan issue for us . . . and for young people across the country.
As the process comes to a close, we have to keep asking: will the proposed reforms be a good deal for young people? We’re going to keep fighting to make sure that it is.
Tomorrow – on Christmas Eve – the Senate will vote on its health care bill, and then House and Senate leaders and the White House will meet to negotiate the final bill. Our commitment to you is to understand what is good and bad in the bills from the perspective of young Americans and to provide ways to have a say in order to make sure not just that health care legislation passes, but that health care legislation that is a good deal for young people passes.
Stay tuned. And happy holidays.
Tags: commonwealth fund, health care reform, house, non-partisan, Senate, white house
Zac and Eva are profane, vulgar, and low rent. That video was a mistake.
What happened to the other post. You guy’s to ashamed?
Disgusting video. This is one of the reasons I married a little brown Thai Lady. I got tired of fat self absorbed leftist white chicks bitching at me for being a man while they gobbled bon bons and burned their bras (for God’s sake put your bras back on) and struted around with NOW T-shirts on, who wants that anyway. No thank you… I’ll take that hot sweet exotic loving Thai Lady any day over some bad attitude “rock the commies” slag any day. Give me Liberty and the Love of a good woman, NOT one of these biooootches. Oh yeah and my wife’s favorite TV show: Hannity. My wife’s favorite author: Mark Levin, now that’s American: smoke that lefties. Add a Comment
Yes, but you don’t specify what type of ‘reform’ they support, or how much they are willing to pay, or force their parents to pay. Anyone can play that game. If this link is true, your claim of 88% is skewed. obviously by the lack of specifics in the poll
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/69289-the-young-turn-against-obamacare
I can give up my frappucinos and buy my own health care thank you very much.
Sure, “reform” in general helps. But this particular bill is clearly not non-partisan. Those of us who don’t support heavier government involvement in the market obviously don’t think it will work. Not everyone agrees here…
Mandatory health care coverage. I feel like I’ve been plopped back into Jr. High
If I can be penny wise and pay for my prenatal and delivery costs on my own without insurance or Medicaid (which I did, and had a healthy pregnancy, baby, and quick postpartum recovery), I don’t see why I should get fined if I were to do the same thing again. BTW, my household income is approximately 30 K a year, so it’s not like I’m flying around in jet planes here *cough, Pelosi*
To my fellow young adult Americans: grow up.
….and on a further note, how is the bill non-partisan when it has zero Republican support, Democrat backed only? Seems to me that opposition to Health Care Deform has the bi-partisan agreement….
I would like to point out that RTV is deleting posts that are factualy against their point of view.
Cowards.
I wonder how many of these 18.9 milliion young adults have cell phones, cable tv, new car payments, xbox live subscriptions, smoke, drink, etc. etc. etc. Affordable health insurance is available. You can go insurance.com and get a good insurance policy for about $100 a month for a 20 yo. What next? The govt. needs to pay for their cell phone? People need to step up and start taking responsiblity for themselves, not just wanting the govt. to hand it to them.
These Bills will force people (if they want health care ins. or not) to choice between a private plan or a gov. plan…if they don’t, they will be forced to pay a fine and if they don’t pay the fine they will be jailed…Now that sounds like the freedom that thousands of people have died for.
Learn the facts about the bill, because most of the senators that signed this bill have no idea whats in it.
For our government to say that this bill will save money or cut costs is an absolute joke. Every entitlment plan that they have created has never been under budget.
They are common sense ways to improve access and lower cost and this admin. has no clue how to do that.
Call your senator and let them know that you do not approve to this government take over of our freedoms and health.
BTW – the biggest problem that is affecting our health care costs and access is illegal immigration.
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecenters64bf
These are the facts…this admin. is going to give amnesty to 10-20 million illegal immigrants so they can have free health care. That is so very nice of them to do that!
There is a huge difference in not being able to afford and not wanting to spend beer money on insurance.
Oh this bill is EXACTLY what young people want. It has all the requirements: a bigger deficit(we get to pay it off!), more government intrusion in our daily lives(who doesn’t like the Nanny State?), reduced quality of care( say hello to rationing when you add 50 mil ppl to a system already overworked with a shortage of professionals), and higher cost of health care (according to the HHS department! Google it!). Good job Congressional Democrats and big government supporting Republicans. You made my holiday season so special!
Hey, there’s that cost link I was talking about: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD9CH93RO4
@harrys1. you left the part about people who are able to afford health insurance but opt not to will be penalized. not the destitute. also, you know what happens in most states if you get caught driving a car w/out insurance? do not pass go, do not collect $200, GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL. what’s wrong with this bill is what the republicans put in it. it’s easy for someone with financial options to talk about “freedoms and health care” and “health care is not a right” do you have a right to a free education? do you have a right to be protected by the law enforcement in your community? or only if you can afford the taxes that furnish these things?
The health care bill is a mess. It will leave young people with debt to pay larger than we have ever seen in our lives. IT is not a good plan, it will cost people more money and the care we will receive will be worse. If you want health care reform I am all for it but only when the people who want to pass it will be held to the same plan. Guess what? They’re not.
If this goes thru it will be the end of quality care as we know it. And for the people who tell you death panels and other stuff is s lie. Tell them to read the bill. But why would you expect them to read it when the people who passed it including the president have not read it. A mess, a debt and the worse bill in our history.
Hey baldy…u are badly misinformed. If this bill is put into law you will have three options as a citizen. 1) buy private ins. at higher costs (because of higher taxes on ins. plans and regultaions put on the pri. companies) 2) choose gov’t ins. 3) if you don’t choose either you WILL be fined and if you do not pay that fine you WILL be jailed. Those are the facts baldy.
Comparing auto ins. to health insuranse is absolutely ridiculous. If you want a government official who does not have your best medical interest at mind then go for it buddy…not me!!!
For your information the republicians have not been not allowed to give there opinions and solutions to the health care reform. NONE!!! thats a fact. Your buddy Obama has lied to you over and over again and you guys are still blinded. Wake up and stop them from taking away more freedoms and raising the cost of health insurance for all.
@harry1s, “All individuals will generally be required to get coverage, either through their employer or the exchange, or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income, subject to a hardship exemption.” that’s in part 175 of the bill. did you read ANY of it or, are you going on what glen beck and rush are saying? I found nothing in the bill that indicates any governmental involvement in deciding who gets medical attention or treatment. doctors are always going to be making those decisions. so, the auto-ins and health-ins comparison wasn’t “absolutely ridiculous.” if there was no partisan maneuvering there would still be a public option. when there is a potential filibuster the writers of the original bill capitulate. so, the republicans and that leiberman guy DID have an input. and a negative affect. also, “the cost of health insurance for all”?? all don’t have insurance…that was the point. “For your information…..” lol…classic