There has been a substantial increase in early detection of cervical cancer among young women under 26 in recent years. Researchers believe that it is most likely because the Affordable Care Act allows them to stay on their parents’ insurance.
Researchers used the National Cancer Data Base to compare diagnoses for women who had cervical cancer before and after the health law provision began in 2010. The National Cancer Data Base is a hospital based registry of about 70% of all cancer cases in the United States.
Between 2010 and 2014, the number of women aged 19 to 25 who were uninsured dropped from 34% to 21%.
Catching cervical cancer in its earliest stages substantially increases the changes of successful treatment and survival rates. Early diagnosis also improves the changes that a woman maintains her fertility.
Although it may seem negative that cervical cancer cases are on the rise, it is actually reflective of the fact that more people are using their health insurance to get screened.
Previous research has found that people with insurance are more likely to take advantage of preventative health services such as screenings. Screenings can detect cancer as soon as possible.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, 4 million young adults have gained insurance benefits according to the latest federal data.
There has been more data that the law is linked to improved health outcomes among young adults. For example, more young people have pursued mental health services since the Affordable Care Act.
Additionally, when young adults are surveyed about their own perceptions of their wellbeing, they not report that they are in better physical and mental health.
There is also data that suggests that more young women are able to afford effective forms of birth control.
The Affordable Care Act’s coverage expansion for young adults is one of the law’s most popular provisions. Even those who oppose the law as a whole have indicated their support for allowing young people to remain on their parents’ insurance plans.
