Continued Gains in Health Insurance but Few Signs of Increased Utilization: An Update on the ACA's Dependent Coverage Mandate

Dan M Shane; Padmaja Ayyagari; George Wehby

doi:10.1177/1077558715617066

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Continued Gains in Health Insurance but Few Signs of Increased Utilization: An Update on the ACA's Dependent Coverage Mandate

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Continued Gains in Health Insurance but Few Signs of Increased Utilization: An Update on the ACA's Dependent Coverage Mandate

Dan M Shane, Padmaja Ayyagari and George Wehby

Medical care research and review, Vol.73(4), pp.478-492

08/2016

DOI: 10.1177/1077558715617066

PMID: 26613701

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Abstract

To evaluate the Affordable Care Act's dependent coverage mandate impact on insurance take-up and health services use through the second full year of implementation. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2006 to 2012. Difference-in-difference regressions comparing pre-/postpolicy-outcome changes between 19- to 25-year-olds and 27- to 34-year-olds. Following significant increases in 2011, insurance take-up among 19- to 25-year-olds leveled off overall in 2012. However, increases in coverage for Black young adults were higher in 2012 compared to 2011. Despite increased coverage, there is little evidence of an overall effect on health services use postmandate. Evidence points to increased doctor visits and emergency department visits among Hispanics in the first year postmandate. The Affordable Care Act young adult mandate led to significant gains in insurance take-up, though evidence suggests that the bulk of the gains occurred in the first year after the mandate. Gains for Black young adults appear to have picked up in 2012.

Age Factors

United States

Humans

Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data

Insurance Coverage - statistics & numerical data

Insurance, Health - legislation & jurisprudence

Insurance Coverage - legislation & jurisprudence

Insurance, Health - statistics & numerical data

Young Adult

African Americans - statistics & numerical data

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - organization & administration

Adult

Insurance, Health - organization & administration

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - statistics & numerical data

Details

Title: Subtitle: Continued Gains in Health Insurance but Few Signs of Increased Utilization: An Update on the ACA's Dependent Coverage Mandate
Creators: Dan M Shane - University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA dan-shane@uiowa.edu
Padmaja Ayyagari - University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
George Wehby - University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Medical care research and review, Vol.73(4), pp.478-492
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1177/1077558715617066
PMID: 26613701
ISSN: 1077-5587
eISSN: 1552-6801
Language: English
Date published: 08/2016
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Health Management and Policy; Economics; Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9984063125102771

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18 Times Cited - Web of Science