Young Adults: Addressing the health needs of a vulnerable population

Young adults age 18-24 comprise 9% of the population of the United States1 and are a vulnerable group. They routinely disengage from the health care system starting in mid-adolescence and by the age of 18-26, 15% do not have a usual source of care and 40% have not seen a primary care physician in the previous year2. As a result, 4.5 million young adults in this age group are currently without a usual source of care in the United States. Although only 4% have a limiting medical condition, young adults are the second highest utilizers of emergency room services in the nation, second only to individuals over age 753, 4.