Long-Term Impacts of Childhood Medicaid Expansions on Outcomes in Adulthood

S-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Studies
Year: 2020
Volume: 87
Issue: 2
Pages: 792-821

Authors (3)

David W Brown (not in RePEc) Amanda E Kowalski (University of Michigan) Ithai Z Lurie (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We use administrative data from the Internal Revenue Service to examine long-term impacts of childhood Medicaid eligibility expansions on outcomes in adulthood at each age from 19 to 28. Greater Medicaid eligibility increases college enrolment and decreases fertility, especially through age 21. Starting at age 23, females have higher contemporaneous wage income, although male increases are imprecise. Together, both genders have lower mortality. These adults collect less from the earned income tax credit and pay more in taxes. Cumulatively from ages 19 to 28, at a 3% discount rate, the federal government recoups 58 cents of each dollar of its “investment” in childhood Medicaid.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:restud:v:87:y:2020:i:2:p:792-821.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25