Healthcare disparities among young adults in the ASEAN region are a growing concern, with significant barriers to utilization rooted in socioeconomic factors. This abstract argues that income and insurance status are the most substantial of these barriers, disproportionately impacting young people and hindering their access to essential care. While some ASEAN nations have made strides toward universal health coverage, these systems often remain fragmented or insufficient for young adults, especially those in the informal economy or with precarious employment. The high cost of out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses—which can constitute a large share of total healthcare costs—forces low-income young adults to postpone or neglect preventive care, leading to a higher reliance on expensive emergency services for conditions that have worsened over time. A lack of comprehensive health insurance further exacerbates this issue. Many young adults are uninsured or underinsured, making them vulnerable to catastrophic health expenditures that can lead to medical impoverishment. This financial insecurity, coupled with other non-financial barriers like health illiteracy and geographic inequality, creates a cycle of poor health outcomes. Addressing these disparities requires multi-faceted policy interventions, including expanding affordable and youth-friendly insurance schemes and strengthening financial protection mechanisms to reduce the burden of out-of-pocket costs.
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