By CATHERINE COLMERAUER

Change is good if you are a 20-something in need of health-care insurance.

A recent Commonwealth Fund survey estimated 13.7 million people ages 19 to 25 either joined or remained on their parents' health insurance in 2011. Of those, 6.6 million likely would not have been covered before the Affordable Care Act, which allows those unable to get insurance through their jobs to stay on a parent's plan until age 26.

The Buffalo Law Journal surveyed some Western New Yorkers to find out if and how they have been affected by reforms to federal health-care laws.

Name: Katelyn Carpenter
Age: 24
College: SUNY Buffalo Law School student
Insurance coverage: provided under parents' plan

How much do you know about health law and the Affordable Care Act?

"I have been either a child on my parents' health care or a student on my parents' health care, so it has never been something I have been concerned with or know much about. When it comes time to choosing my own insurance, I feel like I am really going to need my parents to guide me through because I never have had to personally make those choices."

Has health care affected your decisions in pursuing an education or career?

"Absolutely. It was definitely one of the factors that benefited me when I decided to go on to graduate school because it was before the act was passed. If I didn't go to school, I would have been on my own very quickly. It will also certainly impact the job I choose - the general consensus is with a government job you are well taken care of, so that is one of the reasons I am highly considering a governmental job."

Does your coverage play a role in how well you take care of yourself, particularly in terms of preventive care?

"Now that I am older, my mom always tells me to keep the eye appointments to a minimum because we have a very low limit for eye care. We don't have dental insurance anymore, so I always make sure to decline if the dentist wants to take X-rays. Unless there is something really wrong and I have a horrible toothache, I don't do the checkups they recommend."

Name: Kelsey Simet
Age: 24
Employment: middle office assistant, HSBC Securities, Buffalo
Insurance coverage: provided under parents' plan

How much do you know about health law and the Affordable Care Act?

"I don't know a lot about my health insurance. Every year when my parents re-sign up through work, my mother hands me a card and explains, 'This is how much co-pays are. This is how much you have to pay for prescriptions.' That's basically all I know."

Has health care affected your decisions in pursuing an education or career?

"After I graduated, I knew that I only had a year until I had to start paying back loans and that I would be coming off my parents' health insurance, so I felt forced to get a job that had health insurance. It did narrow the search, I had two options for jobs and I chose the one that had health insurance."

Name: David McNall
Age: 27
Employment: HR representative, Try-It Distributing Co. Inc., Lancaster
Insurance coverage: employer-sponsored

How much do you know about health law and the Affordable Care Act?

"I know a lot. I would say that I know much more about health insurance than my peers ... I try to stay up to date, but I wish I knew more about the (ACA). It's pretty comprehensive. There are a lot of reforms going on. I know a decent amount but there is a lot more to this plan that I need to grasp and see how it will affect my company."

Does your coverage play a role in how well you take care of yourself, particularly in terms of preventive care?

"I started our (company) plan in December. Coming from one job to another, my job was not in my new network. It was kind of difficult, but I did find a new doctor, got a checkup and now it's great. My checkups are covered 100 percent, so I am never discouraged from getting them. If I am sick, I am going to go see a doctor and get taken care of."

Name: Corie Edwards
Age: 24
Employment: sales associate, Salut Wines & Spirits, East Aurora
Insurance coverage: provided under parent's plan

How much do you know about health law and the Affordable Care Act?

"I know a good deal about the American health-care system. I became more aware of it after living in England, which has a universal health-care system. I count myself lucky that under Obamacare I can stay on my mother's plan and not have to pay all the bills I would be paying if I were uninsured."

Does your coverage play a role in how well you take care of yourself, particularly in terms of preventive care?

"With not having to pay a co-pay or having to pay for medicine on my plan, I definitely take preventive measures. My insurance covers dental and I go to the dentist regularly.

"So many problems with your heart and blood can be linked back to your mouth, so going for your cleaning every six months is actually pretty major."

Name: Josh Galluch
Age: 24
Employment: customer service, GEICO
Insurance coverage: provided under parents' plan

Does your coverage play a role in how well you take care of yourself, particularly in terms of preventive care?

"Yes. From the few prescriptions I have, I see how expensive medical care is. I don't want to become dependent on prescription drugs to take care of medical issues that can be avoided by leading a healthy life. In the event I ever lose my health insurance, I don't want to have to pay for medical care that could have been avoided by taking better care of myself."

Has health care affected your decisions in pursuing an education or career?

"If GEICO did not offer health insurance, I probably would not have applied. A company that treats its employees well is one that offers health insurance to them. It's especially important if you have dependents."

Name: Dan Shick
Age: 24
Employment: graphic designer, Phoenix Apparel and Marketing, Elma
Insurance coverage: provided under parents' plan

How much do you know about health law and the Affordable Care Act?

"I don't feel like I know much. It is difficult to understand the Act with all the conflicting media views. Even if you wanted to be proactive and attempt to search about how the Affordable Care Act impacts us, it is hard to find a clear-cut answer. You are never going to find the same answer twice."

Has health care affected your decisions in pursuing an education or career?

"Because of my age and current health, I have never been worried about having or not having health insurance. Honestly, a retirement plan is something I would consider before a health plan."