Is Medicaid misreporting stable over time? Self-reported health insurance coverage of Medicaid recipients in Louisiana, 2007–2017

Louisiana Medicaid Expansion and Pent-Up Demand

“…2 By December 2018, more than 475,000 people had enrolled in Medicaid expansion in Louisiana and, as a result, the number of uninsured in the state fell by more than 50%. 3 One potential consequence of this expansion is that newly enrolled Medicaid beneficiaries, previously underutilizing health care because of high outof-pocket costs, may exhibit pent-up demand for health care services, defined as initial utilization caused by foregoing or delaying care while uninsured or underinsured that declines over time after gaining insurance coverage. 4 Medicaid eligibility expansions have been associated with increases in primary care and preventive visits, [5][6][7][8][9] hospitalizations, 10,11 other services like specialist care, behavioral health services, and tobacco cessation treatment, 9,12 and with mixed responses in emergency department (ED) visits.…”

“…Before expansion, most childless adults in Louisiana were ineligible for Medicaid coverage 2. By December 2018, more than 475,000 people had enrolled in Medicaid expansion in Louisiana and, as a result, the number of uninsured in the state fell by more than 50% 3. One potential consequence of this expansion is that newly enrolled Medicaid beneficiaries, previously underutilizing health care because of high out-of-pocket costs, may exhibit pent-up demand for health care services, defined as initial utilization caused by foregoing or delaying care while uninsured or underinsured that declines over time after gaining insurance coverage 4…”