WASHINGTON (AP) They’re young, healthy and flat broke and now the government says they have to buy thousands of dollars’ worth of medical insurance. What should tapped-out twentysomethings do?

Well, some may just do nothing. The annual fine for shrugging off the new federal insurance requirement, which is to begin in 2014, starts out at a relatively low $95, depending on income. That would be far cheaper than paying premiums.

But that doesn’t necessarily make blowing off the mandate a good idea for the fit and frugal. Millions of young people will qualify for good deals on health care if they take time to sort through the complicated law.

Many will get Medicaid coverage at virtually no cost. Others will qualify for private insurance at a fraction of the full premiums. And health plans offered under the law will limit individuals’ out-of-pocket expenses to about $6,250 per year or less a bulwark against gigantic, unexpected medical bills.

“It doesn’t have to be cancer or a heart attack or even a bad car accident,” said Karen Pollitz, a health policy expert at the Kaiser Family Foundation whose own son needed $15,000 worth of surgery after he broke his wrist while skateboarding at age 20. “Once you show up in the ER, it starts to cost you some money.”

The plans also will cover at no charge preventive care such as HIV tests, screening for depression or alcoholism, flu shots, hepatitis vaccine, contraception and pregnancy care. And insurers will no longer be able to exclude or charge extra for people who already have health problems.

“It’s the 15 percent of young people who have chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes, and the young women looking to have a baby,” said Aaron Smith, 30, co-founder of Young Invincibles, which advocates for young adults’ health care. “That discrimination won’t fly in 2014.”

Young Americans are the least likely to be insured: almost three of 10 adults who are under 35 aren’t covered. And they go to emergency rooms more than any other group except seniors.

It’s still possible President Barack Obama’s health care law won’t be around in 2014, when the big changes are to kick in. Congressional Republicans and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney want to repeal “Obamacare” if they win the November elections. Still, with open enrollment for the law’s new state-based insurance markets scheduled to begin in October of next year, it’s prudent to start considering the options for getting covered.

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