Effects of the Aca Medicaid Expansions on Adults Living With a Depressive Disorder

Approximately one in five adults suffers from mental illness in the United States, and low-income adults represent a particularly vulnerable group within that statistic. Research shows that the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions have led to coverage gains and improvements in access to care for low-income, childless adults. However, research has focused less on Medicaid expansion effects by race and other demographic characteristics for individuals with depressive disorders. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 2011-2018, a Capstone team estimated difference-in-difference models exploiting the quasi-experimental design of Medicaid expansions, implemented on a state-by-state basis, to estimate the effects of Medicaid expansion on measures of healthcare access and health status. The team found that Medicaid expansion contributes to a decrease in the uninsured rate and improvements in access, with no differential impact by race. The research highlights factors that further disadvantage individuals with depressive disorders from obtaining coverage and accessing care.