Exhibit 1. Almost Half of Young Adults Ages 19–29 Experienced Gaps
in Health Insurance Coverage During the Past Year, 2009
Uninsured
now
28%
Insured all year
55%
Insured
now, time
uninsured
17%
Young adults ages 19–29 = 45.8 million
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Exhibit 2. Low-Income and Minority Young Adults Disproportionately
Had a Time Without Insurance in the Past Year
Young Adults with a Time Without Insurance
in the Past Year, by Income and Race/Ethnicity:
$60,000
or more
4%
Don’t know/
refused 8%
Don’t know/
refused 2%
Other
6%
$40,000–
$59,999
8%
$20,000–
$39,999
24%
Less than
$20,000
55%
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% because of rounding.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Hispanic
24%
Black
17%
White
52%
Exhibit 3. Young Adults with Low Incomes, Blacks, and Hispanics
Are More Likely to Be Uninsured During the Past Year
Percent uninsured anytime during the past year, young adults ages 19–29
58**
60
54**
53
45*
39
40
32*
20
16*
0
<$20,000
$20,000–
$39,999
$40,000– $60,000 or
more
$59,999
* Difference is significant at p<.05, compared with <$20,000.
** Difference is significant at p<.05, compared with White.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
White
Black
Hispanic
Exhibit 4. Almost Half of Uninsured Young Adults Ages 19–29
Have Been Uninsured for More Than Two Years
Never had
insurance
9%
Less than
4 months
9%
4 months
to <1 year
13%
More than
2 years
46%
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
1–2 years
23%
Exhibit 5. Almost Half of Young Adults Lost or Had to Switch
Insurance After High School; Half Went Without Insurance
for Two Years or More
What happened to health insurance
when graduated from or left high school
Don’t know/
refused
2%
Continued to
get insurance
through
same source
52%
Did not have
insurance
1%
Lost
insurance
30%
Switched
to a new
source
15%
Length of time without
insurance*
Don’t know/
refused
2%
2 years
or more
49%
<1 month
4%
>1 month to
<6 months
13%
6 months
to <1 year
12%
1 year to
<2 years
21%
* Among those who had a gap between losing and gaining new insurance, or who went without insurance after
graduating from or leaving high school, or who did not have insurance when they graduated from or left high school.
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% because of rounding.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Exhibit 6. Two-Thirds of Young Adults Who Attended College
Lost or Had to Switch Insurance After College
What happened to health insurance
when graduated from or left college
Don’t know/
refused
1%
Did not have
insurance
1%
Continued to
get insurance
through same
source
30%
Switched
to a new
source
39%
Lost
insurance
28%
Length of time without
insurance*
Don’t know/
refused
1%
2 years
or more
27%
<1 month
13%
1 year to
<2 years
6 months
13%
to <1
year
14%
>1 month to
<6 months
33%
* Among those who had a gap between losing and gaining new insurance, or who went without insurance after
graduating from or leaving college, or who did not have insurance when they graduated from or left college.
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% because of rounding.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Exhibit 7. How Important Is It for the Administration and Congress
to Pass a Law That Would Provide Affordable Health Insurance
to All and Improve Health Care Overall?
Percent of young adults ages 19–29 who say health
insurance reform is very or somewhat important
Somewhat important
100
80
88
98
7
15
88*
73*
17*
23*
60
40
Very important
91
73
71*
51*
20
0
Total
Democrat
* Difference is significant at p<.05, compared with Democrat.
Note: Numbers may not sum to totals because of rounding.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Republican
Independent
Exhibit 8. Who Do You Think Should Pay for Health Insurance
for All People?
Percent of young adults ages 19–29 who say health insurance costs should be paid for by:
Mostly individuals
Mostly employers
Mostly government
Shared by individuals, employers, and government
100
80
9
7
20
3
6
25
60
19*
15*
8*
5
16*
14*
40
61
64
Total
Democrat
68
51*
20
0
* Difference is significant at p<.05, compared with Democrat.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Republican
Independent
Exhibit 9. Support for a Requirement for Everyone
to Have Health Insurance
Percent of young adults ages 19–29 who strongly or somewhat favor
a proposal that requires everyone to have health insurance
100
Somewhat favor
Strongly favor
80
73
62
60
40
62*
34
47*
34
38*
30*
20
39
28
16*
24*
0
Total
Democrat
* Difference is significant at p<.05, compared with Democrat.
Note: Numbers may not sum to totals because of rounding.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Republican
Independent
Exhibit 10. Support for Increasing the Age to Which Dependent Young
Adults Are Able to Remain on Their Parents’ Employer Health Plans
Percent of young adults ages 19–29 who strongly or somewhat favor a proposal to
allow young adults to remain on their parents’ employer health plans to age 26
Somewhat favor
Strongly favor
100
88
86
82
76*
80
26
34
30
60
33
40
52
62
43*
20
51*
0
Total
Democrat
* Difference is significant at p<.05, compared with Democrat.
Note: Numbers may not sum to totals because of rounding.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Republican
Independent
Exhibit 11. Support for Allowing Young Adults to Remain Enrolled
in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Up to Age 26
Percent of young adults ages 19–29 who strongly or somewhat favor a proposal to
allow young adults to remain enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP beyond age 18
Somewhat favor
100
83
80
75*
75
33
60
61*
33
36
32
40
20
Strongly favor
41
50
29*
39*
0
Total
Democrat
* Difference is significant at p<.05, compared with Democrat.
Note: Numbers may not sum to totals because of rounding.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund Survey of Young Adults (2009).
Republican
Independent