Young and Uninsured: What to Know

If you’re in your 20s or early 30s, you’re more likely than any other age group to go without health insurance. Many young adults say they feel healthy, rarely see a doctor, or think coverage costs more than it’s worth.

Paying a monthly premium can also feel like a burden, especially if you’re juggling rent, student loans, or uneven income.

But experts say health coverage isn’t just about how often you use care. It’s about protection.

“For every single one of us, there's always a risk that something catastrophic could happen that, without health insurance, could turn into a really expensive bill,” says Tina Marshalek, a licensed health insurance navigator with Covering Wisconsin who also works in community outreach.

For many young adults, the hard part isn’t deciding whether to get insurance. It’s knowing how to sort through the options. Terms like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance can be hard to understand. Sign-up rules and deadlines are easy to miss, especially if you’ve never had to deal with health insurance on your own.

“A lot of my job is raising awareness around health literacy,” says Marshalek. “When people say, ‘I don’t really know what my options are,’ we can help with problem-solving.”

There are several ways to get coverage and lower your costs. Once you learn how health insurance works and what matters most at this stage of life, the choices tend to feel more manageable….