Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation and Health Care Expenditures Among Low-Income Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Food insecurity is associated with high health care expenditures, but the effectiveness of food insecurity interventions on health care costs is unknown.

Objective

To determine whether the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which addresses food insecurity, can reduce health care expenditures.

Design, setting, and participants

This is a retrospective cohort study of 4447 noninstitutionalized adults with income below 200% of the federal poverty threshold who participated in the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the 2012-2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

Exposures

Self-reported SNAP participation in 2011.

Main outcomes and measures

Total health care expenditures (all paid claims and out-of-pocket costs) i

SUBMITTER: Berkowitz SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5710268 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature