‘Obamacare’ Insures 3 Million Young Adults

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Some 3.1 million young adults have health insurance as a result of the health care reform law, according to new figures released Tuesday by the Obama administration.

That’s up from 2.5 million in December 2011, a similar report found then.

“Today, because of the health care law, more than 3 million more young adults have health insurance,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. “This policy doesn’t just give young adults and their families peace of mind, it also gives them freedom. It means that as they begin their careers, they will be free to make choices based on what they want to do, not on where they can get health insurance.”

A provision in the Affordable Care Act permits young adults to remain on a parent’s insurance policy until age 26. It remains a widely popular part of the law, one that Democrats have sought to highlight.

The news comes just days ahead of an expected Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the law. The prospect “Obamacare” could be thrown out has left numerous Republicans sympathizing with the under-26 provision and other well-liked components, lest they be blamed for the damaging disruptions their efforts could cause.

But they haven’t backed off their vow to repeal the health care law entirely.

“Unless the Supreme Court throws out the entire Obamacare bill, the House will move to repeal all of it,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said Tuesday. “And then what we’ll do is move in a step-by-step approach to common-sense reforms that will lower the cost of health insurance and ensure that the American people can go to the doctor of their choice.”

The Obama campaign released the following video Tuesday pegged to the announcement.

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