Affordable Care Act to Go Into Effect

A major provision of healthcare reform that impacts young adults goes into effect this week in California, but a surprisingly small number of residents actually know about it.

Beginning Thursday, young people will be able to remain on their parent's health insurance plans up to age 26. Daniel Zingale of the California Endowment says this knowledge should be widespread, but it's not.

Dr. Gerald Kominski of the Center for Health Policy Research at UCLA says extended coverage for young adults is vital.

"We estimate that there are as many as a million young adults between the ages of 19 and 25 in California who are currently uninsured," he said.

Cal State Northridge student Aaron Keshishian, 25, was among that group. He looked into health insurance through the Cal State system, but said it was roughly what he pays for a semester's tuition.

He's been without health insurance for three or four months, but now he'll get back on his mother's plan, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.