I do not get it

The fact that children stay on parents insurance until twenty six, why Twenty six, why not thirty or forty or forever?
Why is there a penalty for not having insurance?
We did not have medical insurance in the fifties and sixties, when we went to doctor we paid for it, when we went to hospital we paid for it, sometimes in monthly payments or like when I was pregnant and that was every year, I paid something each time I saw the doctor so when I went to hospital it was pretty much paid for.
Of course we did not have a new car, new furniture,  our groceries were healthy but budgeted, there were no vacations, our "vacations" were a day or two seeing our parents.
We did not own a house and paid rent, there was no homeowners insurance covering disaster and luckily we did not have one, when we could afford a house we bought what we could afford and then did insure it and improved it without remodeling loans.
The thing is we made it work, and we did it without the government helping!
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I raised children and there were basic things they grew up knowing,.
One- was get the best education  doing what you like the best you can.
Two- was when you graduate you need to have a job.
Three- find a job with insurance  even it the job is not your first choice.
Four- if you have a vehicle you have it covered with insurance.
Five- was for the boys all six, if you get a girl pregnant you take care of the child!
Six- for the girls, if you get pregnant , you are responsible for that life, whether or not the father cares.
Seven- they grew up knowing if there were emergencies we were there for them. And we were....
Eight-Nothing is free no matter someone pays, and you  will be proud of what you have if you earn it.
Nine-Love your family for they will be the one that has your back, and they have found this  also true.
Ten- Life is not easy, but it is worth the effort you put into it.
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So what  happened that the House and senate think that an adult person needs to be on their parents insurance, when did people become so fragile?
When did people start to think if you are pregnant that the life inside them was worth less than theirs?Iis this why life is so cheap for young people?
I keep hearing times change, and that is true but morals should not, empathy should not, our very humanity should not.