Open AccessMedicaid Expansion Associated With Some Improvements In Perinatal Mental Health
Author(s) -
Claire E. Margerison,
Katlyn Hettinger,
Robert Kaestner,
Sidra GoldmanMellor,
Danielle R. Gartner
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
health affairs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.837
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 2694-233X
pISSN - 0278-2715
DOI - 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00776
Subject(s) - medicaid , mental health , depression (economics) , medicine , pregnancy , psychiatry , postpartum depression , postpartum period , environmental health , health care , genetics , biology , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth
Poor perinatal mental health is a common pregnancy-related morbidity with potentially serious impacts that extend beyond the individual to their family. A possible contributing factor to poor perinatal mental health is discontinuity in health insurance coverage, which is particularly important among low-income people. We examined impacts of Medicaid expansion on prepregnancy depression screening and self-reported depression and postpartum depressive symptoms and well-being among low-income people giving birth. Medicaid expansion was associated with a 16 percent decline in self-reported prepregnancy depression but was not associated with postpartum depressive symptoms or well-being. Associations between Medicaid expansion and prepregnancy mental health measures increased with time since expansion. Expanding health insurance coverage to low-income people before pregnancy may improve perinatal mental health.