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The Affordable Care Act, Dependent Health Insurance Coverage, and Young Adults' Health
Author(s) -
Carlson Daniel L.,
Lennox Kail Ben,
Lynch Jamie L.,
Dreher Marlaina
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/soin.12036
Subject(s) - health insurance , logistic regression , demography , health care , medicine , environmental health , gerontology , psychology , sociology , political science , law
This study examines the consequences of the P atient P rotection and A ffordable C are A ct ( ACA ) dependent coverage provision for the health of U . S . young adults aged\–25. Using data from the C urrent P opulation S urvey— M arch S upplement for the years 2007–2012 and ordered logistic regression analyses, we examine self‐rated health and its association with dependent health insurance coverage for 19‐ to 25‐year‐olds and a comparison group of 28‐ to 34‐year‐olds before and after implementation of the ACA . Compared to 28‐ to 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 aged 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 .