In 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased access to health insurance for millions of Americans. Based on income, some people may receive subsidies and tax credits to buy insurance, while others may qualify for Medicaid in certain states. Could these changes help to reduce disparities in health insurance? How could Medicaid expansion affect these changes?
The authors found that the ACA could reduce many disparities in health insurance coverage, in both expansion and non-expansion states. Inequalities might increase only in groups ineligible for ACA benefits.
Could Medicaid expansion states have a greater reduction in health insurance inequalities than non-expansion states? For most characteristics, the answer is “no.” This is partly due to the magnitude of inequalities in coverage above the poverty threshold and to the composition of the populations in expansion and non-expansion states.
However, disparities in the uninsured rate between those working full time, year round and other labor force statuses could decrease more in expansion states than in non-expansion states. Additionally, the coverage gap between non-Hispanic Blacks and Whites could decline more where Medicaid expanded. This research establishes a benchmark to evaluate how closely future changes in the uninsured rate associated with the ACA meet the potential for bridging disparities.
Population of focus: Low income individuals
Links to resource:
- Introduction to report and link to download report
- Full report (pdf)
Date: 2015
Organization: United States Census Bureau