Welfare Reform and Health
Jonah B. Gelbach
June 4, 2004
Abstract
We investigate the impact of welfare reform on health insurance coverage and health care
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 health care utilization, as well as an increase in the likelihood of
needing care but finding it unaffordable. Overall, effects are somewhat larger for Hispanics
compared to blacks and low educated women.
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