Survey shows that young adults lack awareness when it comes to health insurance
The Commonwealth Fund, a private organization that promotes higher standards in health care and insurance, has released a new survey concerning health insurance awareness among young adults in the U.S. The Affordable Care Act is often highlighted as a major issue for young people throughout the country, many of whom do not currently have health insurance or receive coverage through their parents. With health insurance exchanges taking form in every state, young consumers may be at risk of missing their opportunity to attain coverage in October of this year.
Exchanges remain mysterious for young consumers
The survey shows that young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 lack awareness of health insurance exchanges. Approximately 27% of these consumers claimed to have any knowledge of these exchanges, let alone the fact that these exchanges will begin open enrollment on October 1 of this year. Considering the fact that young adults have been a major focus for the Obama administration and its work in health insurance for some time, the survey paints a somewhat troubling future for these consumers.
Marketing efforts may not be as effective as hoped
The federal government intends to enroll some 2.7 million people between the ages of 18 and 35 in health insurance exchanges throughout the country by next year. This may be a difficult goal to attain if these consumers remain unaware of the services offered to them through state-based exchanges. While the federal government has been working to promote awareness of exchanges, these efforts seem to be making slow progress among consumers that currently have little need and interest in health insurance of any kind.
Young adults show little interest in health insurance
The problem may lie with the fact that many young people in the country are relatively healthy. These consumers could see health insurance as an unnecessary financial burden and opt to remain uninsured. A significant portion of young people in the country also receive coverage through the employer-sponsored health insurance plans of their parents. The Affordable Care Act allows these consumers to remain on their parent’s insurance plans until the age of 26.
