Introducing Young Invincibles

I am writing to introduce a new campaign for health care reform: Young Invincibles.

Not too long ago, health care reform seemed like a done deal. People in Washington were talking about wrapping up the issue before recess. The President seemed unstoppable. The Congressional leadership appeared to be in line.

It seems like a lifetime ago now.

From the town hall outbursts to the never-ending coverage of Washington intrigue, the conversation on health care in America has been overwhelmed by the spectacle of reform. The substance of reform - the tens of millions of Americans without insurance or on the verge of losing what little coverage they do have - has been all but forgotten.

We need to change that. And it is our belief that young Americans are the ones to do it. Young Invincibles is a new campaign of 18- to 34-year-olds committed to securing quality, affordable health care for all Americans. We started this campaign because we recognized that our generation was not being engaged in the current health care debate. The generation that fought for the "chance to make change" was not being called on to see its moment through.

But the health care crisis in America is our crisis.

Over half of all Americans ages 18 to 34 are overweight or obese. Fifteen percent suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, cancer, hypertension or heart disease. Over thirteen million are uninsured, representing one-third of the total uninsured population in the country. We are less likely to be eligible for an employer sponsored health plan, more likely to change jobs and lose coverage during a life transition, and most at risk of going into crippling, life-altering debt after getting sick or injured while uninsured.

It is time for us to make our voices heard in this debate. Over the coming weeks, Young Invincibles will educate young Americans about the health care crisis, grow our membership, and share the stories of young people who have suffered needlessly and noiselessly at the hands of a system that does not work. And we will mobilize our generation to let Congress know that the time for health care reform is now.

We believe that engaging young Americans in this debate can help push health care reform over the top. And that is what we intend to do. You will be hearing a lot from us before the final votes in Washington are called. It is time for us to be heard from again. Change simply can't wait.

Join us.

Ari A. Matusiak is co-founder of Young Invincibles. He can be reached at ari [dot] matusiak [at] gmail [dot] com.