The Affordable Care Act & Implications for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

Youth in foster care represent a vulnerable population of 18-26 year olds with high occurrences of chronic medical conditions and mental health needs. Specifically, the Congressional Research Services reports that between 35 to 60 percent of youth entering foster care have at least one chronic or acute medical condition that requires treatment. Twelve percent of youth in the Midwest Study – which surveyed former foster youth from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin in their transition to adulthood – reported having at least one health condition or disability that limited their daily activities. An additional study found that young adults who had spent their adolescent years in foster care were more than twice as likely as their peers to struggle with mental health problems. Despite the high medical and mental health needs of older youth aging out of foster care, studies have found that their access to care is significantly lower compared to their peers. According to findings from the Midwest Study, 41 percent of youth interviewed reported not having health insurance compared to only 21 percent of their peers.