Study Shows: Crime Rates Tied to Health Insurance Coverage

TL/DR –

A new study suggests that access to health insurance may lower crime rates in the United States. The study examined the largest Medicaid disenrollments in US history in Tennessee in 2005, where approximately 190,000 non-elderly and non-disabled adults lost coverage. The researchers found that losing Medicaid coverage may have societal costs, with policing data showing mass insurance loss driving up crime rates with the median county seeing a rise of 16.6% in crime.

US Crime Rates Could Decline with Access to Health Insurance, Scholars Suggest

Increasing access to health insurance could contribute to a decrease in US crime rates, according to a recent working paper by four academic scholars.

The study analyzed one of the largest ever Medicaid disenrollments, which occurred in Tennessee in 2005. Approximately 190,000 nonelderly, nondisabled adults without dependents were stripped of coverage during this period.

The research suggests that society incurs indirect costs when individuals lose Medicaid coverage.

Upon reviewing policing data, the researchers found that mass insurance loss triggered an increase in crime rates. The median county witnessed a 16.6% rise in crime, with violent and nonviolent crime rates increasing by 20.6% and 14.1% respectively.

The scholars noted, “Crime imposes costs on government budgets, crime victims, and society more generally.” They caution against recent policies that could result in many Americans losing Medicaid and other insurance coverage. They argue that such policies could lead to unexpected and negative repercussions for communities across the nation.

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