The expansion of Medicaid to about 17 million more adults under the ACA had a positive side effect — more children of parents with Medicaid went to annual well care visits, according to a study published in Pediatrics.
Using 13 years of state Medicaid eligibility data, researchers examined 50,622 parent-child pairs in families up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. They examined the relationship between Medicaid enrollment and probability of pediatric preventive care and found the probability a child would get their annual check up increased 29 percentage points if a parent was enrolled in Medicaid.
"This finding reveals an important spillover effect of parental insurance coverage that should be considered in future policy decisions surrounding adult Medicaid eligibility," the authors wrote.
Though the study did not identify why this spillover occurs, the authors suggest several potential reasons. They suggest insurance increases parents' familiarity with the healthcare system, therefore increasing the likelihood they will bring their child in for a well child visit. Parental healthcare coverage could also improve the family's overall financial health, freeing up more funds for pediatric care.
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