New Mexican students tell their story

Today, the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data showing that since September 2010, the percentage of adults aged 19-25 covered by a private health insurance plan increased significantly, with approximately 2.5 million more young adults with insurance coverage compared to the number of young adults who would have been insured without the law, illustrating that the Affordable Care Act continues to significantly increase the number of young adults who have health insurance.

Because of the health care law, young adults can stay on their parents' insurance plans through age 26. This policy took effect in September 2010.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 2.5 million more young adults don't have to live with the fear and uncertainty of going without health insurance,” said Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Moms and dads around the country can breathe a little easier knowing their children are covered.”

Secretary Sebelius will host an open conference call to discuss this news today at 1:30 PM ET/11:30 AM MT. Dial in: 888-769-8711, Passcode: HHS.
 
Families around the country are benefiting from this part of the law, including New Mexico families like the Nietos and Galesics.

Both Aaron Nieto and Nate Galesic are available for local interviews in the Albuquerque area, and by phone where necessary. Please contact Patrick Davis (505) 306-2971 to coordinate interviews.

Aaron Nieto graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2010 with a dual-degree in Political Science and English. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, he was able to remain on his parents' insurance plan and can do so for another 18 months while exploring work opportunities. Though he has a degree, jobs are hard to come by, so he currently interns to gain "real-world" experience. More important to him, he can now choose whether to enroll in graduate school next year, with plenty of time under the ACA  to remain insured while seeking an advanced degree, or choose to seek full-time employment with the benefits which provide the same. The ACA gives him choices in a tough job market.

Nate Galesic entered the University of New Mexico in 2009 and lost the ability to remain on his family's plan. Out of his own pocket, from money saved lifeguarding in the summer, he purchased a very basic health insurance plan offered by the Student Health Center on campus. But that was only for emergencies and not enough to provide real health care.

In 2010, his family joined a new health plan. When the ACA kicked in, Nate signed on too. The money he saves out of pocket now goes to pay for his school expenses, not health care, and he says that he has a plan that "covers everything" and that "I don't have to worry about getting sick or injured and having to decide if I can afford the co-pay to visit a doctor." Thanks to the ACA, Nate is concentrating on school, not worrying about getting sick.

Data Highlights:

Data from the first three months of 2011 showed that one million more young adults had insurance coverage compared to a year ago. The numbers announced today show a continuation of the coverage gains due to the health care law as students graduate from high school and college in May and June and otherwise would have lost coverage.
The data released today are consistent with estimates from surveys released earlier in the year. Those surveys have shown an increase in the number and percentage of young adults 19 to 25 with health insurance coverage. Specifically, the Census Bureau and the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index Survey, as well as the NHIS release of data through March 2011, reported similar trends through early 2011.
Today's results, highlighted in an HHS issue brief, show that the initial gains from the health care law have continued to grow.

“The data announced today show that, because of the health care law, there is a continued and consistent pattern of improved health coverage among young adults,” said Sherry Glied, Ph.D., HHS assistant secretary for planning and evaluation. “The Affordable Care Act has helped literally millions of young adults get the health insurance they need so they can begin their careers with the peace of mind that they're covered.”

For more information about this announcement, please see the HHS Issue Brief at http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2011/YoungAdultsACA/ib.shtml
 
For more information about the CDC NHIS data released today, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur201109.pdf