Health Bill Allows Young Adults to Stay on Parents' Plan

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MILWAUKEE - University of Wisconsin Milwaukee student Brandolyn Amusa is facing graduation soon and maybe even the unemployment line.

So to hear the new health care bill will allow her to stay on her parents' insurance plan until she's 26 is a relief.

"Knowing that I can still be on my parents insurance if I don't get into grad school or don't get a job, it's reassuring," she said.

But even if that wasn't the case, Wisconsin has an emergency law that allows students stay on their parents' health insurance plan until their 27, unless they get married or their employer offers insurance.

But can the federal government afford to do this for everyone?

"We're dealing with a mandate that is not terribly costly compared to other benefits," said economist Scott Adams.

The UW-Milwaukee professor has worked for both presidents Bush and Obama on their economic advisory councils.

He says the provision will no doubt raise the cost of insurance but he believes the benefits may outweigh the costs, specifically allowing young workers to move around the workforce without fearing they'll lose their health insurance.

"I wouldn't think this something that people are jumping up and down against. They might say these lazy kids, why don't they go out and get a job but that's easy to say when there are jobs out there."

Something Amusa understands all too well.

"People are coming back to school because they can't find work," she said.