Max Baucus: “Prior to enactment of health care reform, there was no law that required insurers to extend coverage for young adults to…”

“Prior to enactment of health care reform, there was no law that required insurers to extend coverage for young adults to remain on their parents' plans. For years, getting a diploma also meant losing your health insurance. And whether you went on to college or not, it was often hard as a young person to find affordable coverage. Overall, Americans in their twenties were twice as likely to go without health insurance as older Americans. For too many young Americans over the years, the answer to these questions was simply to go without health insurance and hope that you stayed healthy. Under the new health reform law, insurers will be required to allow all Americans under the age of 26 who do not get health insurance through their job to stay on their parents' plan. And beginning in 2014, children up to age 26 can stay on their parent's employer plan even if they have another offer of coverage through an employer. This provision is scheduled to go into effect in September. But every major insurance company--more than 65 in total--and several major self-insured organizations have said they will provide continuous coverage for young adults this summer.”