Welfare Reform and Health Insurance: Consequences for Parents.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Holl, Jane L.; Slack, Kristen Shook; Stevens, Amy Bush
- Source
- American Journal of Public Health; February 2005, Vol. 95 Issue 2, p279-285, 7p
- Subject
- Medically uninsured persons
Medicaid
Public welfare
Welfare recipients
Medical care
Human services
Public welfare policy
Health insurance
Families
Health policy
United States
Illinois
- Language
- ISSN
- 00900036
Objectives. We assessed the relation between the work promotion, welfare reduction, and marriage goals of welfare reform and the stability of health insurance of parents in transition from welfare to work. Methods. We analyzed a panel survey (1999-2002) of a stratified random sample of Illinois families receiving welfare in 1998 (n = 1363). Results. Medicaid remains the foremost source of health insurance despite a significant decline in the proportion of parents with Medicaid. Regardless of work/ welfare status in year 1, transitioning to work only or no work/no welfare increased the likelihood of having unstable health insurance in years 2 and 3 compared with those who remained on welfare only. Conclusions. Parents who meet the welfare reform goals of work promotion and reduction of welfare dependence experience significant loss and instability of health insurance. (Am J Public Health. 2005;95:279-285. doi: 10.2105/AJPH. 2003.025882) Reprinted by permission of the publisher.