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Health care coverage has increased for Americans aged 19-25 years but decreased for those aged 26-34 years since implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in JAMA Pediatrics.
From 2009 to 2012, health care coverage rose 3.1% for 19- to 25-year-olds but decreased 4.6% among those aged 26-34. Both groups were less likely to have a usual source of care, but the decrease was larger for the older age group (–6.1% vs. –3.3%), Dr. Meera Kotagal of the University of Washington, Seattle, and her associates reported.
There was, however, no significant difference between the age groups for visits to a physician for a routine checkup in the past year, with 19- to 25-year-olds down 1.5% and 26- to 34-year-olds down 1.9%. The investigators noted that, despite these largely negative changes, there was no significant change in self-reported health status: –0.3% for those aged 19-25 and 0.3% for those aged 26-34.
"Young adults, given their overall healthy status, may not desire regular primary care, and thus an expansion in coverage may not lead these individuals to have a usual source. The proportion of young adults who reported a recent physician’s visit ... has declined yearly since 2003," Dr. Kotagal and her associates wrote (JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Sept. 8 (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1208).
This analysis was based on data for 2009 and 2012 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The investigators did not report any conflicts of interest.
Health care coverage has increased for Americans aged 19-25 years but decreased for those aged 26-34 years since implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in JAMA Pediatrics.
From 2009 to 2012, health care coverage rose 3.1% for 19- to 25-year-olds but decreased 4.6% among those aged 26-34. Both groups were less likely to have a usual source of care, but the decrease was larger for the older age group (–6.1% vs. –3.3%), Dr. Meera Kotagal of the University of Washington, Seattle, and her associates reported.
There was, however, no significant difference between the age groups for visits to a physician for a routine checkup in the past year, with 19- to 25-year-olds down 1.5% and 26- to 34-year-olds down 1.9%. The investigators noted that, despite these largely negative changes, there was no significant change in self-reported health status: –0.3% for those aged 19-25 and 0.3% for those aged 26-34.
"Young adults, given their overall healthy status, may not desire regular primary care, and thus an expansion in coverage may not lead these individuals to have a usual source. The proportion of young adults who reported a recent physician’s visit ... has declined yearly since 2003," Dr. Kotagal and her associates wrote (JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Sept. 8 (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1208).
This analysis was based on data for 2009 and 2012 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The investigators did not report any conflicts of interest.
Health care coverage has increased for Americans aged 19-25 years but decreased for those aged 26-34 years since implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in JAMA Pediatrics.
From 2009 to 2012, health care coverage rose 3.1% for 19- to 25-year-olds but decreased 4.6% among those aged 26-34. Both groups were less likely to have a usual source of care, but the decrease was larger for the older age group (–6.1% vs. –3.3%), Dr. Meera Kotagal of the University of Washington, Seattle, and her associates reported.
There was, however, no significant difference between the age groups for visits to a physician for a routine checkup in the past year, with 19- to 25-year-olds down 1.5% and 26- to 34-year-olds down 1.9%. The investigators noted that, despite these largely negative changes, there was no significant change in self-reported health status: –0.3% for those aged 19-25 and 0.3% for those aged 26-34.
"Young adults, given their overall healthy status, may not desire regular primary care, and thus an expansion in coverage may not lead these individuals to have a usual source. The proportion of young adults who reported a recent physician’s visit ... has declined yearly since 2003," Dr. Kotagal and her associates wrote (JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Sept. 8 (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1208).
This analysis was based on data for 2009 and 2012 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The investigators did not report any conflicts of interest.
FROM JAMA PEDIATRICS
