democracyLab

Problem:
About 30 percent of adults ages 18 to 24, and more than one-quarter of adults 25 to 34, are uninsured, though the average for all age groups is 16 percent, according to figures released by the Census Bureau in August 2006. This makes young adults the most likely to be uninsured.

Currently, Oregon law only requires that health care policies include dependents up to the age of 19. In a time when adult children are more likely to remain financially dependent upon their parents, this is out of line.

A Look at What Other States Have Done:

Colorado- a child is considered a dependent for insurance purposes until their 25th birthday, even if they are not enrolled in an educational institution, as long as they are unmarried, financially dependent, or share the same permanent address as the insurance provider.

Massachusetts- Dependents may now stay on their parent's coverage for two years past the age of dependency, or until age 25, whichever occurs first.

New Jersey- a dependent may be covered up to the age of 30, as long as they have no dependents of their own. The insurance provider may charge a higher rate for this coverage, but the increase is not to exceed 3 percent of the premiums.

New Mexico- states that health insurance for dependents may not be terminated based on age before their 25th birthday, regardless of whether the dependent is enrolled in an educational institution.

Utah- Requires that coverage for unmarried dependents continue until the dependent's 26th birthday, regardless of whether or not the dependent is enrolled in higher education.

Additional Information about the Policy Idea

What is your current strategy for moving this idea forward? What is the general timeline?
We are already having conversations with various stakeholders – most importantly, the health insurance lobbyists that would be most likely to oppose such a bill – in order to craft a consensus bill in time for 2009 session.

Based on the list of prizes that are available for the winner of this contest, what prizes would you select and how would you put them to use?
The most valuable prize would be the Lobby Day. Insurance mandates are fairly common and often controversial. Bringing young people and their parents to the capitol would help to assuage the concerns of legislators who worry about forcing insurance companies to expand their coverage.

Voters in the Progressive Policy Battle Royale commit either money or volunteer time to whichever ideas they support. To which 501c3 organization will such monetary donations go and how will they be used? How will you be able to put volunteers to use and what kinds of tasks will they perform?
Monetary donations will go to the Bus Project Foundation. Volunteers would help to build support for the bill in 2008 and organize a lobby day during the 2009 session.

Information about the Presenter

A teacher and community activist, Ben Cannon was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in November, 2006 and was sworn in as its youngest member in January, 2007. After attending West Linn High School and Washington University, Ben received a Rhodes Scholarship in recognition of his service, scholarship, and leadership. At Oxford University, England, he conducted research on US and international education policy while receiving degrees in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Comparative and International Education. He is the co-chair of the Oregon Bus Project Board of Directors and brand new father to daughter Evelyn.