A new poll finds that there has been a significant drop in the number of uninsured young Americans, thanks to provisions in the Affordable Care Act that allow them to stay on their parents' plans.

According to Gallup research, about one in four (24.2%) 18- to 25-year-olds reported being uninsured in the second quarter of this year, down from 28% in the third quarter of 2010, and nearly the lowest Gallup has measured at any point since it began tracking health insurance coverage rates in 2008.

And Gallup reports that the Affordable Care Act is responsible for the good news:

“The provision of the Affordable Care Act that allows children up to the age of 26 to remain on their parents' plans appears to be having an immediate effect on the number of Americans who report they have health insurance. Since it went into effect in September 2010, the percentage of 18- to 25-year-olds who report being uninsured has significantly declined by four percentage points.”

And the Associated Press notes “The new Gallup poll findings translate to about 1 million more young adults with health insurance.”

This afternoon, the Department of Health and Human Services will have another important announcement about the Affordable Care Act and young adults. Be sure to check back this afternoon for more details.