Medicaid Expansion Associated With Some Improvements In Perinatal Mental Health

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health affairs (Millwood, Va.) Va.), 2021-10, Vol.40 (10), p.1605-22
Main Authors: Margerison, Claire E, Hettinger, Katlyn, Kaestner, Robert, Goldman-Mellor, Sidra, Gartner, Danielle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Discontinuity
Families & family life
Government programs
Health care industry
Health insurance
Households
Income
Insurance
Insurance coverage
Low income groups
Medicaid
Medical screening
Mental depression
Mental health
Morbidity
Perinatal
Postpartum
Postpartum depression
Postpartum period
Poverty
Pregnancy
Self report
Symptoms
Uninsured people
Well being
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0278-2715
1544-5208
DOI:10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00776