PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Michel H. Boudreaux
AU  - Brandy J. Lipton
TI  - Medicaid Benefit Generosity and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Medicaid Adult Vision Benefits
AID  - 10.3368/jhr.56.2.1117-9193R2
DP  - 2019 Aug 06
TA  - Journal of Human Resources
PG  - 1117-9193R2
4099  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2019/08/02/jhr.56.2.1117-9193R2.short
4100  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2019/08/02/jhr.56.2.1117-9193R2.full
AB  - This paper examines whether Medicaid adult vision coverage affects labor market activity using state-by-year changes to these benefits. We find that vision benefits increase hours worked and occupational skill requirements, but no consistent evidence of changes on the extensive employment margin. Intensive margin effects could be facilitated by decreased barriers to transportation - when a state covers vision services, beneficiaries are more likely to commute to work by car or motorcycle rather than other modes. Our study suggests that, conditional on eligibility, Medicaid can have a positive effect on labor market activity by expanding access to services that enable work.