The Supplemental Nutrition food Assistance Program (SNAP) improved child health outcomes, such as greater birth weight and a lower risk of being underweight. SNAP appears to be linked to lower healthcare expenses in adult populations, but there was less evidence in children. In the 2013-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a retrospective analysis of U.S. children (age <18) living in low-income homes (<200% of the federal poverty line). At 12 and 24 months, researchers used multivariable regression to model the effect of continuous SNAP enrollment on health costs compared to non-enrollees, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors. There were 5,626 children in the sample, and 49.2% got SNAP for the whole 2-year survey period. SNAP-recipient households had lower earnings than SNAP non-recipient households (78.3% vs 37.9%), and children in SNAP-recipient homes were more likely to be publicly insured (94.9% vs 64.5%). At 12 ($1,222 vs $1,603) and 24 months ($2,447 vs $3,009), unadjusted expenditures were lower for children in SNAP-recipient homes. When sociodemographic and clinical variables were taken into account, no statistically significant disparities in health care expenditures, such as emergency room, inpatient, outpatient, and prescription costs, were found. SNAP participants’ children face increased social difficulties in a variety of areas. When sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were considered, there were no changes in short-term healthcare expenses depending on SNAP enrollment. Even though SNAP has been shown to boost children’s health, investigators found that sustained membership in the program over 2 years did not result in significant short-term healthcare cost reductions. While SNAP was meant to promote beneficiaries’ health and well-being, the data imply that it may not cut healthcare expenses for children as it did for adults.
Source:bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-022-03188-3
