Unemployment, Health Insurance, and the COVID-19 Recession

• DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3568489
• Publication Date: 2020-04-07T11:30:51Z
• Authors: Anuj Gangopadhyaya; A. Bowen Garrett
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

The sharp reduction in US economic activity associated with public health efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 virus will likely result millions Americans losing their jobs, at least temporarily. Adding insult injury, many who lose jobs could also insurance. In this paper, we examine kinds insurance unemployed workers have and how coverage patterns shifted under Affordable Care Act (ACA). As ACA's provisions took effect, likelihood adults being uninsured dropped by 35 percent, driven a rise Medicaid Marketplace/other private coverage. uninsurance rates among was greater states that expanded eligibility ACA than did not expand Medicaid, difference owes larger increase expansion states. Joblessness throughout country coming months, see increases. Given unemployment may reach unprecedented heights during crisis, steep increases strain state budgets, restricting already limited resources very communities hardest hit pandemic. Increasing federal matching rate, beyond mandated recently passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act, help provide critical needed protect most need.