Gallop Poll: Fewer Young People Are Uninsured

If anyone wondered whether the Affordable Care Act was making a difference, check out this new Gallup poll. Since the Act passed in September 2010, young people can stay on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26.

The number of uninsured 18 – 25 year-olds decreased from 28.4 percent to 24.2 percent since 2010. This is the lowest percentage since Gallup started measuring health insurance rates.

However, the chart shows that more 26 – 64 year-olds are uninsured as of 2011, hitting a high of 19.9 percent.

The Gallup report states:

Whether the overall percentage of all Americans who lack healthcare coverage declines will depend not just on uninsured rates for 18- to 25-year-olds, but also on what happens to 26- to 64-year-olds over the next several years.