As negotiations around President Biden’s proposed Build Back Better Act remain stalled, the Biden White House continues to push for formal talks on the legislation that, if passed, would significantly expand health coverage for up to 4 million uninsured Americans – including children.
While the effects of expanded health care on the development and health of children have been studied in depth, new research from Sebastian Tello-Trillo, an assistant professor in the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, and co-authors indicates that there is also a positive “spill-up” effect on the parents of children covered by Medicaid.
, Tello-Trillo and co-authors Daniel S. Grossman (West Virginia University) and Barton Willage (Louisiana State University) find that mothers of insured children are more likely to be in a stable marriage and experience decreased levels of stress, and that mothers specifically experience mental health improvements when their children are covered by insurance.
The authors also suggest that the positive impacts of expanded Medicaid coverage on parents lead to a better household experience for children and are likely to contribute to the long-term positive effects of Medicaid coverage that have been illustrated in previous research.
Sebastian Tello-Trillo is an assistant professor in the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)
UVA Today sat down with Tello-Trillo to discuss the implications of these findings and the effect they could have on current public policy proposals.
Q. What age group did you and your colleagues focus on for this work?
A. The mothers in our sample range from age 16 to 53. Since we were able to follow mothers over time, these mothers specifically were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. In terms of the children who are experiencing changes in Medicaid, we studied the full range of childhood years, from birth to 18.
Q. How many children are currently covered by Medicaid, and what opportunities do you and your co-authors see for expansion of this program as it relates to children?
A. As of today, approximately 38.3 million children are enrolled in Medicaid, and about 44 million are eligible.
A striking example of how important Medicaid is in relation to births: Medicaid pays for about half of all births in the United States, although we don’t address birth-related policy in our research. Even though many children are covered by Medicaid, 5.7% of all children remain uninsured, and the majority of this group live in low-income households with income below 250% of the federal poverty line.
Q. What are some of the effects on parents when children are given more insurance coverage as part of Medicaid?
A. It is easy to understand that for parents, having their children covered by health insurance gives a peace of mind, especially when this insurance is affordable or free.
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