The Affordable Care Act, Dependent Health Insurance Coverage, and Young Adults’ Health

This study examines the consequences of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) dependent coverage provision for the health of U.S. young adults age 19-25. Using data from the Current Population Survey – March Supplement for the years 2007 to 2012 we employ ordered logistic regression analyses and examine the mediating effect of dependent coverage on the association between self-reported health for 19-25 year olds and a comparison group of 28-34 year olds before and after implementation of the ACA. Compared to 28-34 year olds, results indicate the post-ACA period (2010-2011) is associated with increased access to dependent health insurance coverage and improved health for young adults age 19-25 relative to the period before implementation (2008-2009). More than half of the difference in health improvement across age groups can be attributed to changes in dependent coverage. These results are the first to demonstrate a positive health benefit resulting from the implementation of the ACA.