Effects of Expanding Medicaid Dental Coverage on General Health Status of Low-Income Adults
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9099165 |
|---|---|
| Authors | George L Wehby (0000-0001-7784-9908, University of Iowa, corresponding author), Wei Lyu (0000-0001-7441-9961, University of Alabama at Birmingham), Julie Reynolds (University of Iowa), Julie C Reynolds (0000-0001-7952-9852, University of Iowa), Steven M Levy (0000-0001-9150-4199, University of Iowa) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 606-613 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Medical Care (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0025-7079 • E-ISSN: 1537-1948 |
| Publisher | Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1097/mlr.0000000000002162 |
| PMID | 40310287 |
| OpenAlex | W4410000310 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 31 |
BACKGROUND: Oral health is considered a key component of general health. However, causal evidence examining the effects of dental coverage on general health is sparse. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansions with extensive dental benefits versus less generous dental benefits on the general health status of individuals with low income. RESEARCH DESIGN: A difference-in-differences design comparing states that expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2014 by whether they offered extensive or less generous dental benefits. SUBJECTS: Adults aged 18-64 years below 138% of the federal poverty level who participated in the 2011-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-rated general health status and number of days not in good physical health or good mental health in the past 30 days. RESULTS: The likelihood of fair/poor rated health status declined with extensive dental benefits, including by 2.3 (95% CI: -3.90 to -0.69) percentage-points when aggregating 2014-2022, with declines first observed in 2015 and almost all years after. There were no statistically significant effects on days not in good physical or mental health when aggregating 2014-2022. There were fewer mentally unhealthy days with extensive dental benefits by 0.93 days in 2019 and 2021 (95% CI: -1.80 to -0.06 and -1.70 to -0.15, respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that extensive dental coverage improves self-rated general health status among low-income adults. There is suggestive evidence of improved mental health in 2 but not all years and no discernable effect on days not in good physical health
Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Health care · Low income · Medicaid · Socioeconomic status · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Gerontology
Self-rated health status as a health measure
Disparities in Access to Oral Health Care
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Poor Oral Health and Severe Mental Illness
How did the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion Affect Coverage and Access to Care for Low-Income Parents Who Were Eligible for Medicaid Before the Law Was Passed
Trends in dental insurance claims in the United States in the context of the Covid ‐19 pandemic
The impact of the affordable care act's Medicaid expansion on dental care use through 2016
Broken smiles
Self-rated health and mortality in the NHANES-I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study
The Individual and Program Impacts of Eliminating Medicaid Dental Benefits in the Oregon Health Plan
The Impact of the ACA Medicaid Expansions on Dental Visits by Dental Coverage Generosity and Dentist Supply
Effects of the Recent Medicaid Expansions on Dental Preventive Services and Treatments
The Effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Children’s Health Coverage
The Impacts of the ACA Medicaid Expansions on Cancer Screening Use by Primary Care Provider Supply
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |