The Russell Sage Foundation journal of the social sciences : RSF · 3 authors, 1 centre
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This cohort study used longitudinal data from the children of the NLSY79 and simulated state-level Medicaid eligibility to examine associations between Medicaid generosity and family wealth. It found that greater state-level Medicaid access was associated with larger amounts held in savings/retirement accounts and mortgages, but these positive effects were largely driven by non-Hispanic white families and those with more highly educated mothers.
The authors examined whether greater state-level Medicaid generosity was associated with family wealth and if effects varied by parental education and race-ethnicity. It also increased average home mortgage amounts but did not change home value or net worth. Importantly, the positive effects on accounts and mortgages were concentrated among non-Hispanic white families and mothers with more than a high school education. The study notes limitations, including measuring wealth shortly after pregnancy and using survey data, and suggests the findings may reflect that more advantaged families were better positioned to capitalize on expanded Medicaid access.
