Youth Health Care Push

Young Americans (18-34) are the most uninsured age group in the nation. No longer eligible for their parents' plans, new to work and stuck in lengthy waiting periods before coverage kicks in, or locked in to entry-level or part-time jobs that do not provide insurance, they are vulnerable to accident or illness. On Friday night, a fundraiser for a new organization seeking to mobilize young people on health care reform:

Young Invincibles Demand Health Care Reform

National Campaign to host fundraiser in Downtown Providence

What:            Young Invincibles – Dance Rally for Health Care Reform

When:            Friday, October 9th from 10pm-2am

Where:           The 201, Downtown Providence

Who:              Young Invincibles, a national campaign mobilizing young people to be a part of the health care reform debate.

On October 9th, join Rhode Island’s Young Invincibles for a dance party featuring the DJ Duo Certified Bananas. Held at the 201 in Downtown Providence, the event will raise money and increase awareness of a national campaign to bring young people into the debate for health care reform. The event is open to the public. A five dollar donation is requested.

Young Invincibles is a national grassroots and e-advocacy effort aimed at encouraging young Americans to engage in the health care reform debate.  The organization recently launched a photo petition campaign at www.yiwantchange.org with partner organizations including Rock the Vote, Campus Progress, Campus Camp Wellstone, Center for Community Change, Choice USA, Energy Action Coalition and 80 Million Strong, and others.

“We have heard over and over again that young Americans do not care about health care reform – that it is just not our issue,” said Ari Matusiak co-founder of Young Invincibles.  “We are here to change that, to prove that our generation cares about health care and that we are willing to fight for reform.”

Over 13 million 18 to 34 year-olds, more than any other age group in America, live without health insurance. Millions more are on the verge of losing the coverage they do have.  According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, of the 46 million Americans without adequate coverage, young Americans ages 19 to 24 represent the highest percentage of uninsured individuals.  In 2007, thirty percent of them did not have health insurance and an additional 26 percent of those ages 25 to 34 were also uninsured, Kaiser found. Experts speculate that both of these numbers have almost certainly risen due to current economic conditions including high jobless numbers for young people. 

Young Invincibles was founded by a small group of family and friends who are students, workers, and believers in change.  The campaign is not affiliated with any political party, nor is it a project of any existing organization or group.  For more information please visit www.younginvincibles.org.