Welfare Reform and Health

Abstract

We investigate the impact of welfare reform on health insurance coverage and healthcare utilization of single women aged 20–45, using nationally representative data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We present estimates from both difference-in-difference models and difference-in-difference-in-difference models (using married women as a comparison group). We find that welfare reform is associated with reductions in health insurance coverage and specific measures of healthcare utilization, as well as an increase in the likelihood of needing care but finding it unaffordable. Overall, effects are somewhat larger for Hispanics compared with blacks and low-educated women.