photo: Speaker Pelosi/ BY-NC-SA

By: Emily Beaver

This week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that under a health reform bill in the House of Representatives, young adults could stay insured under their parents' plans through age 26.

Members of Y.I. Want Change, a coalition of youth organizations formed by the Young Invincibles health reform advocacy group, and their supporters stood with Pelosi when she made the announcement at a press conference. The reform could be an important victory for young people.

"It's important because as young people graduate from college and are struggling to find jobs in this economy, they need to have coverage and this provides them with an option," said Chrissy Faessen, vice president of communications and marketing for Rock the Vote. The organization is a member of the Y.I. Want Change coalition.

Right now, about 25 states allow young people to stay on their parents' plans into their 20s. But in other states, young adults get dropped from their parents' private health insurance plans, usually between ages 19 and 22. At age 19, most young people no longer qualify for Medicaid, a government health insurance program that provides coverage for very low-income children and parents.

Being able to stay on a parent's insurance plan longer could help more young people get health insurance, especially those who don't receive insurance through an employer. But it won't be a solution for young adults whose parents don't have insurance or whose parents are insured through Medicaid.

Young advocates for health reform are lobbying for more changes that will help young people get access to affordable health care. Members of Y.I. Want Change and their supporters spent Tuesday on Capitol Hill talking to lawmakers' staff members about health care reform. Y.I. Want Change also released six priorities for reform, including more financial help for young people who can't afford insurance premiums and a public option.

Supporting legislation that lets young adults stay insured under their parents' plans should be easy for lawmakers. The measure could encourage more young adults to get insured without costing taxpayers, because parents would pay for their children's premiums.

Pelosi has said she supports the public option, which could provide another option for young adults who can't get health care through a parent or employer. Whether Congress will pass a public option or other reforms that will make health care accessible and affordable to all young people--no matter who their parents are--will be seen in upcoming weeks, as the House and Senate work to finalize health care reform legislation.

Previously:

• Can't Spare a Dime for Health Care
• Old vs. Young -- the Health Care Tug-Of-War
• Ten Health Care Terms You Need to Know