Health Insurance For Ethnic Teens

Health Insurance Options for Ethnic Teens and Young Adults

Research shows older teens, particularly minorities, are at a much greater risk of lacking health insurance

By Meha Ahmad, Insuranceagents.com Staff Writer

Young people are often thrown together into one big group where the age lines and boundaries are somewhat blurred. But when it comes to health insurance, the age groups couldn’t be more distinct. A simple year in age can make the difference between someone having proper health insurance and someone going without any kind of medical coverage at all. To search for coverage now, use our online form to shop for up to 5 quotes at a time.

As far as health insurance for teens goes, nobody has it worse than the minorities. The ethnic groups in America are statistically less likely to have health insurance compared to the average Caucasian American. According to a study by the Center for Adolescent Health and Law, a startling amount of adolescents, older adolescents and young adults lack health insurance coverage. The numbers skyrocket for racial and ethnic minorities in those age groups.

So when it comes to ethnic youth, who lacks proper health insurance coverage?

• Nearly 30 percent of Hispanic adolescents (10-18)
• 12 percent of African American adolescents (10-18)
• Only 8.4 percent of Caucasian adolescents (10-18)
• About 50 percent of Hispanic young adults (19-23)
• 3 in 10 high school graduates, and half of those who do not go to college, are uninsured at some time during the year following high school graduation.
• Racial and ethnic minorities are more likely than Caucasians to have incomes that are less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level; therefore they are more likely than Caucasians to enroll in Medicaid and/or to be uninsured.

With the recent mass job cuts, more people than ever are losing their health insurance coverage (from their employer-sponsored plan, or the loss of income no longer allows them to afford healthcare). Minorities are disproportionately more likely to be affected and lose their coverage.

As children grow older, they are at a greater risk for lacking health insurance than children only slightly younger. Almost 14 percent of older teens, ages 15-18 years of age, lack health insurance, compared to the 11 percent of 10-14 year olds who lack health insurance.

Ethnic and racial minority workers are more likely than Caucasians to be uninsured, most likely due to not being able to work in jobs where health insurance benefits are offered; working for small companies who do not offer employer-sponsored health benefits; and not being able to afford the health insurance premiums when coverage is offered. 

It’s imperative that everyone, even the youth, have health insurance coverage. Just because a child may be part of a minority group, doesn’t mean parents should have to struggle to find them affordable health insurance. Here are some affordable health insurance coverage options for ethnic teens and young adults:

1. Employer-sponsored health insurance – While it is unlikely that even an older adolescent will have a full-time job, especially one with health insurance benefits, this is the best option. For parents, that is. Parents should be open to opportunities that may lead them to employer-sponsored health insurance benefits; it typically guarantees coverage for your spouse, children, and dependents, regardless of pre-existing condition and, most importantly, age and ethnicity.
2. Medicaid – This federal health care program provides benefits to more than 50 million low-income children, working families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Many racial and ethnic minorities—who are disproportionately more likely to use the program than Caucasians—depend on Medicaid, providing coverage to about one in five Latinos and African Americans.
3. Contact your state legislator andfederal officials – Sometimes, you have to make your own opportunities. Writing, calling, and emailing your congressman about the key healthcare policy issues and demand they work to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. Raising awareness about this key issue is the fastest way for the market to change.
4. College health insurance –  For the older adolescents, always check with your college in case they offer health insurance benefits for a small premium. And double--actually, triple!--check the conditions in any health insurance policy. You may have benefits on campus but not too far off it.

Health insurance is to your teen as auto insurance is to your car, a necessity.  Don't be one of the growing population of under-insured individuals.  Get in touch with qualified health insurance agents today and find out how they can help you. To find a local agent use our online forms to shop for up to 5 quotes at a time.

Published: Thursday 3rd September 2009