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More young adults among new health insurance enrollees
Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee
(
Rick Loomis/LA Times via Getty Images
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More young adults among new health insurance enrollees
Continuing a two-year upward trend, young adults accounted for 37 percent of those who newly signed up for health insurance by the time open enrollment ended last Sunday, according to Covered California.
In the Affordable Care Act's first open enrollment period two years ago, 29 percent of first-time enrollees were in the coveted 18-34 age group. The figure was 34 percent in the sign-up period that ended last year.
Covered California says it's important to have as many young, healthy people in the insurance pool as possible, since that helps keep premiums down.
Executive Director Peter Lee credits outreach on college campuses and social media for the enrollment growth among young adults.
Overall more than 425,000 Californians signed up for the first time during this enrollment period, according to Covered California. The agency says it was hoping for somewhere between 295,000 and 450,000.
The percentage of first-time enrollees among other age groups:
- 17 and younger - 6.3 percent
- 35 to 44 – 16 percent
- 45 to 54 – 21 percent
- 55 to 64 – 19 percent
Open enrollment isn’t over yet for everyone. Those who started an application on time but didn’t finish have until this Saturday to get it done.
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