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Effects of parental public health insurance eligibility on parent and child health outcomes

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  • Gopalan, Maithreyi
  • Lombardi, Caitlin McPherran
  • Bullinger, Lindsey Rose

Abstract

Many states expanded their Medicaid programs to low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These expansions increased Medicaid coverage among low-income parents and their children. Whether these improvements in coverage and healthcare use lead to better health outcomes for parents and their children remains unanswered. We used longitudinal data on a large, nationally representative cohort of elementary-aged children from low-income households from 2010 to 2016. Using a difference-in-differences approach in state Medicaid policy decisions, we estimated the effect of the ACA Medicaid expansions on parent and child health. We found that parents’ self-reported health status improved significantly post-expansion in states that expanded Medicaid through the ACA by 4 percentage points (p < 0.05), a 4.7% improvement. We found no significant changes in children’s use of routine doctor visits or parents’ assessment of their children’s health status. We observed modest decreases in children’s body mass index (BMI) of about 2% (p < 0.05), especially for girls.

Suggested Citation

  • Gopalan, Maithreyi & Lombardi, Caitlin McPherran & Bullinger, Lindsey Rose, 2022. "Effects of parental public health insurance eligibility on parent and child health outcomes," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:44:y:2022:i:c:s1570677x21001234
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101098
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    Cited by:

    1. Gangopadhyaya, Anuj & Schiman, Jeffrey C., 2023. "Does subsidized public health insurance for parents improve children's human capital and close achievement gaps?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    2. Lindsey Rose Bullinger & Maithreyi Gopalan & Caitlin McPherran Lombardi, 2023. "Impacts of publicly funded health insurance for adults on children's academic achievement," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(3), pages 860-884, January.

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