Young Coloradans Demand Health Care Reform

Young people in Colorado have the most to gain from the success of health care reform – and themost to lose from its failure. In 2008, young Coloradans voted on the issue of health care and arenow looking to the President and their members of Congress to deliver on the promise of reform.

Yes, We (Young Americans) Care

Recently Survey USA released the latest round of polling that confirms young people’s interest inhealth care reform. The poll found that:(1) young people ages 18 to 34 care about health care reform (

91% are paying attentionto the debate

);(2) young people are the

most supportive of the public option

(overall, 58% of Americanssay it is "extremely important," but among 18‐ to 24‐ year olds that jumps to 68 percent and65 percent for 25‐ to 29‐year olds);(3) young people are the

most supportive of President Obama's plan

(60% of 18‐ to 34‐year olds support Obama's plan ‐ including 66% of 18‐ to 24‐year olds and 74% of 25‐ to29‐year olds ‐ compared to 51% overall);(4) young people have the

most to gain

from successful reform because they are the least insured (only 68% of 18‐ to 24‐year olds have health insurance). (Survey USA, August 20,2009:http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=5ba17aa2‐f1b9‐4445‐a6b8‐62b9d1ba8693

) According to Rock the Vote polls conducted in February 2008 and September 2008(http://www.rockthevote.com/about/about‐young‐voters/polling/

), health care consistentlyranked among the top issue priorities of young voters. And in a recent comprehensive survey of theattitudes of young Americans,

71 percent agree that “the federal government should guaranteeaffordable health coverage for every American,”

with just 16 disagreeing and 13 percent neutral. The intensity of support is particularly noteworthy; 43 percent strongly agree and only 6percent strongly disagree. This includes young people across the political spectrum with a majorityof young conservatives (58 percent) and Republicans (55 percent) agreeing with the statement.The poll concluded, “Millennials are particularly resolute on the need for universal health care and,more than older generations, they want to see bold, decisive action toward this goal.” (Center forAmerican Progress, “New Progressive America: The Millennial Generation,” May 2009)

Why We Demand Health Care

Young adults have the highest rate of injury‐related emergency department visits among all agegroups. One‐third of all HIV diagnoses are made among young adults. Fifteen percent of youngadults have a chronic health condition. (Statistics provided by Young Invincibles, accessed onAugust 24, 2009 at http://younginvincibles.org/matters.html

). Despite the popular myth of theyoung being invincible, this is an issue that affects young people everyday.

The time for reform is now.

In Colorado, there are 880,000 uninsured people and 100residents lose health insurance every day.

(Center for American Progress, “Why Colorado NeedsHealth Reform: By the Numbers,” July 2009) Increases in health insurance premiums have faroutpaced individual incomes in the state; from 2000 to 2007, Coloradans faced a 75% increase inpremiums versus a 16% increase in incomes from 2000 to 2007. (Families USA, “Premiums VersusPaychecks,” September 2008) And young people don’t have health care options. Statewide, the toptwo insurance companies hold 53% and in some individual markets the percentage is much higher.In Pueblo, for example, WellPoint Inc. controls 76% of the market. (“Colorado Consumers Pay thePrice For Health Insurance Market Failure,” Health Care for America Now.)Here are more reasons why young people care about health care reform:

•

Americans between ages 18 and 29 are

the most uninsured age group in the country

.(Families USA/The Lewin Group)

•

More than 30 million young adults between the ages of 19 and 34 (46.8%)

went without health insurance

at some point during 2007‐2008. This same age group represents overone‐third (34.7%) of the entire uninsured population. (Families USA/The Lewin Group)

•

Two thirds (66%) of uninsured young adults between the ages of 19 and 29

went without necessary care because of costs

in 2007. (The Commonwealth Fund, “Rite of Passage?Why Young Adults Become Uninsured and How New Policies Can Help,” May 2008)

•

Half (49%) of uninsured young adults ages 19 to 29 and more than one‐third (35%) of allyoung adults report having medical bill problems. (The Commonwealth Fund, “Rite of Passage?” May 2008)

•

Insurance premiums have grown faster than wages, resulting in less take‐home pay forworkers, while the top seven insurance companies CEOs profit some $14.2 million a year.(Center for American Progress)

•

56 percent of uninsured young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 are full-timeworkers.

(Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, “Uninsured Adults, A Profileand Overview of Coverage Options,” June 2008)

•

Over half of uninsured young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 (55%)

work for smallbusinesses

, which are less likely to offer health coverage than larger employers. This agegroup is more likely to work in service sector, agricultural and construction jobs that areless likely to offer health coverage – 42% of uninsured young adults work in industries that have low rates of offering coverage. (Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured,“Uninsured Adults, A Profile and Overview of Coverage Options,” June 2008)

•

Young adult workers are half as likely to be covered by their employer as olderworkers