American journal of preventive medicine
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Although the association between health insurance coverage and access to care is well documented, it is unclear whether the deleterious effects of being uninsured are strictly contemporaneous or whether previous disruptions in coverage have persistent effects. This study addresses this issue using nationally representative data covering 2011-2019 to estimate the extent to which disruptions in health insurance coverage continued to be associated with poor access even after coverage was regained. ⋯ Previous disruptions in health insurance coverage continued to be negatively associated with access to care for more than a year after coverage was regained. Improving access to care in the U.S. may require investing in policies and programs that help to strengthen coverage continuity among individuals with insurance coverage rather than focusing exclusively on helping uninsured individuals to gain coverage.
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Many low-income U.S. households experience food security changes over time, but little is known about how labor market transitions contribute to these changes. This paper uses longitudinal survey data collected from 2017 to 2020 to explore how changes in employment and earnings are associated with changes in food security status. ⋯ Employment losses and earnings reductions are associated with becoming food insecure among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training participants. Providing additional support to individuals who experience these losses and reductions may reduce their risk of becoming food insecure.
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The purpose of this study is to examine year-by-year effects of the 2014 Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on infant mortality by race and ethnicity over the first 6 years. ⋯ The study adds evidence on the association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with a decline in mortality of Black and Hispanic infants. The findings shed light on the importance of examining year-by-year effects over multiple years.
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Although religiosity is known to predict lower suicide risk among the general population, it is unclear how different aspects of religiosity such as religious beliefs and attendance are associated with suicide risk among sexual minorities relative to heterosexual populations. ⋯ Using population-based data, this study shows that the relationships between religiosity and suicide risk vary by sexual orientation and gender and that religious beliefs and religious attendance are differentially associated with suicide risk among sexual minorities. Future research should continue to explore how various aspects of religious participation may influence the mental health of diverse sexual minority communities.