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Latino Youth Will Save Hundreds by Not Complying With ACA

Latino Youth Will Save Hundreds by Not Complying With ACA

Study Says "Young Invincibles" Are Better Off Without Affordable Care Act

(Washington, D.C.) – A basic premise of the Affordable Care Act (also called the ACA or Obamacare) is that insurance costs should be equalized for all Americans by requiring those who are young and healthy, referred to now as "Young Invincibles" ages 18-34, to pay more so that those who are older or sicker can pay less. But with 10.2 million of 53 million Hispanics in the U.S uninsured – most of which fall into the coveted age range – the Obama Administration is set on enrolling this group who admit that the law is "confusing and complicated," according to a new study. About 3.7 million "Young Invincibles" will see a savings of at least $500 in 2014 by not buying this expensive insurance and instead paying the penalty. More than 3 million will save $1,000.

Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative released the following statement:

"The Affordable Care Act is a terrible deal for most young people who are saddled with student loan debt and still can't find jobs. This is especially true for Hispanic Millennials aged 16-24 who suffer a 18.1% unemployment rate compared to other minority groups. Now the White House is telling them they need to cough up hundreds of dollars more each year to purchase plans that don't suit their needs? This is unfair to Latino youth.

The Obama Administration is specifically targeting young Hispanics to sign up for this bad deal and won't acknowledge that for most Hispanics, it will cost significantly less to pay for doctor visits out of pocket, than to enroll in Obamacare. The ACA needs to be repealed and replaced with a fair law that protects and expands care – without gouging millions."

If 7 million healthy people do not purchase insurance by the spring of 2015 at these inflated premiums, insurers will lose money – potentially leading to a "death spiral" where companies cannot afford to cover the costs of older and sicker patients. Experts argue that the private health care system in the U.S. could reach a crisis due to these provisions of the health care law, leading to far greater government control over the market. If this occurs, today's young people will pay higher premiums to support a system that may never offer them benefits. To force compliance, the ACA includes a tax penalty that rises over time for those who do not buy insurance.

For interviews with a LIBRE representative, please contact: Judy Pino, 202-578-6424 or Brian Faughnan, 571-257-3309.