Medicaid Expansion Leads to Healthier Mothers and Babies

Posted on May 23, 2019

Expansion State: New Jersey
New Report Finds Medicaid Expansion Leads to Healthier Mothers and Babies

New Jersey saw a sharp decline in the uninsured rate for women ages 18 to 44 following the state’s decision to expand Medicaid, according to a new report by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Between 2013 and 2017, the uninsured rate for this group dropped from 19.7 percent to 11.6 percent.

Medicaid expansion has played a key role in reducing rates of maternal death and infant mortality and improving the potential for optimal birth outcomes that can increase the promise for a healthy childhood, according to the report. States that expanded Medicaid saw a 50 percent greater reduction in infant mortality, compared to non-expansion states. Read more.

Read report.