Work

Childhood Medicaid Coverage and Later Life Health Care Utilization

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Exploiting a discontinuity in childhood Medicaid eligibility based on date of birth, we find that more years of childhood eligibility are associated with fewer hospitalizations in adulthood. For blacks, we find a 7% to 15% decrease in hospitalizations and a suggestive 2% to 5% decrease in emergency department visits, but no similar effect for nonblacks. The effects are pronounced for utilization related to chronic illnesses and for patients living in low-income postal codes. Calculations suggest that lower rates of hospitalizations during one year in adulthood for blacks offset between 2% and 4% of the initial costs of expanding Medicaid for all children.

Source: The Review of Economics and Statistics

DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00677

Authors: Laura R. Wherry, Sarah Miller, Robert Kaestner, Bruce D. Meyer

Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles, University of Michigan, National Bureau of Economic Research, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Policy and Management

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green