Two recent studies reveal critical insights into Medicaid's impact on mortality rates amid ongoing political discourse. One study highlights a 21% reduction in mortality for low-income adults covered by expanded Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. Another emphasizes that states opting for expansion saved 27,400 lives between 2010 and 2022, while their non-expanding counterparts missed the chance to save an additional 12,800 lives. Harvard economist Amitabh Chandra warns that while restricting Medicaid access may save money, it results in unacceptable human costs, emphasizing the programâs importance in improving health outcomes for millions.
What we're learning is that restricting access to Medicaid might save us money, but that comes at a tremendous cost. And that cost is human lives.
People who gained Medicaid coverage via the ACA expansion were 21% less likely to die in a given year of enrollment than peers who did not get the health coverage.
States that chose to expand Medicaid saved 27,400 lives between 2010 and 2022, while those that declined missed the chance to save 12,800 more lives.
The study does not explain how Medicaid expansion had this effect, but prior research has shown the program is linked with improved physical health.
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