Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Translational Behavioral Medicine 2/2014

01-06-2014 | Practice and Public Health Policies

The Affordable Care Act and implications for young adult health

Author: Maureen Monaghan, PhD

Published in: Translational Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2014

Login to get access

ABSTRACT

In the USA, young adults are most likely to be uninsured and least likely to report a usual source of medical care than any age group. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) recognizes the critical need for expanded insurance coverage for this age group, and multiple provisions of the ACA address insurance coverage and health care utilization in young adults. This paper presents a brief overview of the challenges of maintaining health insurance coverage and accessing health care in young adults, provisions of the ACA relevant to young adults, and early impact of the ACA on young adult health insurance status and health care access and utilization. We offer policy suggestions for behavioral health providers to address continued challenges related to health care for young adults.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Cohen R, Martinez M. Health insurance coverage: early release of estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 2011. Atlanta, GA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012: 1-37. Cohen R, Martinez M. Health insurance coverage: early release of estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 2011. Atlanta, GA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012: 1-37.
2.
go back to reference Collins S, Garber T, Robertson R. Realizing health reform's potential: how the affordable care act is helping young adults stay covered. New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund; 2011: 1-26. Collins S, Garber T, Robertson R. Realizing health reform's potential: how the affordable care act is helping young adults stay covered. New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund; 2011: 1-26.
3.
go back to reference Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. he uninsured: a primer. Key facts about Americans without health insurance. Washington, DC: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation; 2012: 1-40. Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. he uninsured: a primer. Key facts about Americans without health insurance. Washington, DC: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation; 2012: 1-40.
4.
go back to reference Okumura M, Hersh A, Hilton J, Lotstein D. Change in health status and access to care in young adults with special health care needs: results from the 2007 National Survey of Adult Transition and Health. J Adolesc Health. 2013; 52: 413-418.PubMedCrossRef Okumura M, Hersh A, Hilton J, Lotstein D. Change in health status and access to care in young adults with special health care needs: results from the 2007 National Survey of Adult Transition and Health. J Adolesc Health. 2013; 52: 413-418.PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Kirchhoff A, Lyles C, Fluchel M, Wright J, Leisenring W. Limitations in health care access and utilization among long-term survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer. Cancer. 2012; 118: 5964-5972.PubMedCrossRef Kirchhoff A, Lyles C, Fluchel M, Wright J, Leisenring W. Limitations in health care access and utilization among long-term survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer. Cancer. 2012; 118: 5964-5972.PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Lau J, Adams S, Irwin C. Young adult health care utilization and expenditures before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. In: Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2013 Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA. J Adolesc Health. 2013; 52: S21 Lau J, Adams S, Irwin C. Young adult health care utilization and expenditures before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. In: Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2013 Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA. J Adolesc Health. 2013; 52: S21
8.
go back to reference Collins S, Robertson R, Garber T, Doty M. Young, uninsured, and in debt: why young adults lack health insurance and how the Affordable Care Act is helping. Tracking Trends in Health System Performance. Edited by The Commonwealth Fund TC. New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund. 2012: 1–23. Collins S, Robertson R, Garber T, Doty M. Young, uninsured, and in debt: why young adults lack health insurance and how the Affordable Care Act is helping. Tracking Trends in Health System Performance. Edited by The Commonwealth Fund TC. New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund. 2012: 1–23.
9.
go back to reference Blum A, Kleinman L, Starfield B, Ross J. Impact of state laws that extend eligibility for parents' health insurance coverage to young adults. Pediatr. 2012; 129: 426-432.CrossRef Blum A, Kleinman L, Starfield B, Ross J. Impact of state laws that extend eligibility for parents' health insurance coverage to young adults. Pediatr. 2012; 129: 426-432.CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Mechanic D. Seizing opportunities under the Affordable Care Act for transforming the mental and behavioral health system. Health Aff. 2012; 31: 376-382.CrossRef Mechanic D. Seizing opportunities under the Affordable Care Act for transforming the mental and behavioral health system. Health Aff. 2012; 31: 376-382.CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Horgan A, Sweeney J. Young students' use of the internet for mental health information and support. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2009; 17: 117-123.CrossRef Horgan A, Sweeney J. Young students' use of the internet for mental health information and support. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2009; 17: 117-123.CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Sommers B, Buchmueller T, Decker S, Carey C, Kronick R. The Affordable Care Act has led to significant gains in health insurance and access to care for young adults. Health Aff. 2013; 32: 165-174.CrossRef Sommers B, Buchmueller T, Decker S, Carey C, Kronick R. The Affordable Care Act has led to significant gains in health insurance and access to care for young adults. Health Aff. 2013; 32: 165-174.CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Sommers B, Kronick R. The Affordable Care Act and insurance coverage for young adults. JAMA. 2012; 307: 913-914.PubMedCrossRef Sommers B, Kronick R. The Affordable Care Act and insurance coverage for young adults. JAMA. 2012; 307: 913-914.PubMedCrossRef
16.
17.
go back to reference Crowley R, Wolfe I, Lock K, McKee M. Improving the transition between paediatric and adult healthcare: a systematic review. Arch Dis Child. 2011; 96: 548-553.PubMedCrossRef Crowley R, Wolfe I, Lock K, McKee M. Improving the transition between paediatric and adult healthcare: a systematic review. Arch Dis Child. 2011; 96: 548-553.PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Bodenheimer T, Pham HH. Primary care: current problems and proposed solutions. Health Aff. 2010; 29: 799-805.CrossRef Bodenheimer T, Pham HH. Primary care: current problems and proposed solutions. Health Aff. 2010; 29: 799-805.CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Emans S, Austin S, Goodman E, et al. Improving adolescent and young adult health—training the next generation of physician scientists in transdisciplinary research. J Adolesc Health. 2010; 46: 100-109.PubMedCrossRef Emans S, Austin S, Goodman E, et al. Improving adolescent and young adult health—training the next generation of physician scientists in transdisciplinary research. J Adolesc Health. 2010; 46: 100-109.PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Fortuna R, Robbins B, Halterman J. Ambulatory care among young adults in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2009; 151: 379-385.PubMedCrossRef Fortuna R, Robbins B, Halterman J. Ambulatory care among young adults in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2009; 151: 379-385.PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Ozer E, Urquhart J, Brindis C, Park M, Irwin C. Young adult preventive health care guidelines: they can't be found. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012; 166: 240-257.PubMedCrossRef Ozer E, Urquhart J, Brindis C, Park M, Irwin C. Young adult preventive health care guidelines: they can't be found. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012; 166: 240-257.PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Mulye T, Park M, Nelson C, Adams S, Irwin C, Brindis C. Trends in adolescent and young adult health in the United States. J Adolesc Health. 2009; 45: 8-24.PubMedCrossRef Mulye T, Park M, Nelson C, Adams S, Irwin C, Brindis C. Trends in adolescent and young adult health in the United States. J Adolesc Health. 2009; 45: 8-24.PubMedCrossRef
23.
go back to reference Kapphahan C, Morreale M, Rickert V, Walker L. Financing mental health services for adolescents: a background paper. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 39: 318-327.CrossRef Kapphahan C, Morreale M, Rickert V, Walker L. Financing mental health services for adolescents: a background paper. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 39: 318-327.CrossRef
24.
go back to reference Williams S, O'Connor E, Eder M, Whitlock E. Screening for child and adolescent depression in primary care settings: a systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatr. 2009; 123: e716-e735.CrossRef Williams S, O'Connor E, Eder M, Whitlock E. Screening for child and adolescent depression in primary care settings: a systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatr. 2009; 123: e716-e735.CrossRef
25.
go back to reference O'Connor E, Whitlock E, Beil T, Gaynes B. Screening for depression in adult patients in primary care settings: a systematic evidence review. Ann Intern Med. 2009; 151: 793-803.PubMedCrossRef O'Connor E, Whitlock E, Beil T, Gaynes B. Screening for depression in adult patients in primary care settings: a systematic evidence review. Ann Intern Med. 2009; 151: 793-803.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
The Affordable Care Act and implications for young adult health
Author
Maureen Monaghan, PhD
Publication date
01-06-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Translational Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 1869-6716
Electronic ISSN: 1613-9860
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-013-0245-9

Other articles of this Issue 2/2014

Translational Behavioral Medicine 2/2014 Go to the issue