The health reform law that was signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010, seeks to expand health coverage to nearly all Americans, including most of the 13.7 million uninsured young adults. Young adults, age 19-29, have the highest uninsured rate of any age group in the United States and represent 30 percent of the overall uninsured population.1 Although most of the provisions in the health reform law do not specifically target young adults, their high uninsured rate means that they will be one of the groups that are most impacted by the legislation. This document provides a brief overview of health coverage for young adults and then explains how the key coverage provisions in the law will affect this population. While the major provisions of the law will not take effect until 2014, several smaller-scale changes to the health insurance system will begin impacting young adults in 2010.

Full report: How Will Health Reform Impact Young Adults? (PDF | 880.72 KB)