College students across Virginia will celebrate the six-month milestone of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Sept. 23.

The students will be focusing on the provision that the new law extends coverage for young adults. Among the changes are that young adults, up to age 26, may remain on their parent’s plan.

Educational events will be held at the College of William and Mary, University of Virginia, University of Richmond, University of Mary Washington and Tidewater Community College (Virginia Beach and Norfolk campuses).

Janie Williams graduated from the University of Virginia in May and found herself kicked off of her parents’ health insurance plan.  Unable to find work in her field, she has been waiting tables at a job without affordable insurance.

“I watched the health care debate particularly because I knew that I would be affected by the provision about young people staying on their parents’ insurance. I am thankful that the bill passed and that I am now back on my parents’ plan,” said Williams.

Lacey McClear of Richmond, like many college graduates, is waiting tables without insurance.  She lost her insurance due to aging off her parents’ plan earlier this year. She went without insurance until going back on this week due to the new health care law.

“I would not have realized how hard it is to get insurance until I was dropped from my parents’ plan. I looked for insurance and was told I would not qualify due to ‘pre-existing conditions,’” said McClear. “I have been living my life in fear of getting sick, until this week when thankfully, I can go back on my parents’ plan.”

The Stanley family of Virginia Beach has waited for the health care law to go into effect for their youngest daughter Amber to have coverage through their insurance. Amber is a social work student at University of North Carolina and was close to aging off her parents’ plan. Now she will be able to stay in school and not worry about health care coverage.

The events in Virginia are part of a national celebration in which organizations throughout the country are hosting hundreds of events to promote the first wave of the law’s provisions taking effect that day, as well as to educate the public on the effect the law will have on them.