Each year around 26,000 young people in the US “age out” of the Foster Care System. These young people have already lived through trauma and neglect as they have been removed from their families. Once these young adults reach 18 or 21 years of age, their stable services, like health care, are abruptly removed. As a young person, living on your own can be difficult and for Former Foster Children the obstacles can be overwhelming due to a lack of family or a lack of financial and community support. Beyond these obstacles, Former Foster kids are often stereotyped and labeled which makes getting a job or signing a lease difficult. The government assumes little responsibility after a child ages out, even though the child has depended on federal support their entire time in Foster Care. The Affordable Health Care Act would enable these young people to continue to have health coverage through Medicaid until the age 26, which would help give these brave young adults a better opportunity to succeed. The challenges a child in Foster Care face are vast; The Affordable Health Care Act would simply support the basic health needs of these young adults in a crucial time of their life.

To read more on this topic click here for original article by Michael Piraino in the Huffington Post.