By Paris Jackson

EUGENE, Ore. -- New legislation will extend medical coverage to former foster youth, who are no longer in the foster care system. Under the bill, individuals will have medical coverage until they are 21-years-old.

This new legislation will allow former foster youth, who are 18 to stay covered under the Oregon Health Plan until they're 21. That coverage used to terminate after they turned 18.

Many young adults can remain on their parents' medical insurance until they are in their early twenties. However, foster children don't have that luxury.

This group has a number of challenges once they leave the foster system, including lack of health insurance.

"A lot of foster youth when they're in foster care,  we don't have to worry about health care because it's already provided for us. Then once we get out of foster care, we're slammed with this big priority that we have to go get health care coverage, and we can't afford it," said Oregon Foster Youth Connection President Jamie Hinsz.

Hinsz said a lot of former foster individuals are on medications for different mental illnesses, such as post traumatic stress disorder.  When their health coverage ends, they no longer have access to certain prescriptions, resulting in paying out-of-pocket.

The bill will cover 400 former foster youth ages 19 to 21 each year, but Hinsz expects it to possibly help more. Once the Governor Kulongoski signs off on the bill, it will go into effect in May 2010.