SNAP participation and the health and health care utilisation of low-income adults and children

Miller, Daniel P; Morrissey, Taryn W

OBJECTIVE: This article examined whether participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) produced changes to adult and child health and health care utilisation during a period of economic recession. DESIGN: Instrumental variables analysis relying on variation in state SNAP policies to isolate exogenous variation in household SNAP participation. SETTING: Nationally representative data on child and adult health from the 2008 to 2013 National Health Interview Survey. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 92 237 adults and 45 469 children who were either eligible for SNAP based on household income and state eligibility rules or were low income but not eligible for SNAP benefits. RESULTS: For adults, SNAP participation increased the probability of reporting very good or excellent health, and for both adults and children, reduced needing but having to go without dental care or eyeglasses. The size of these benefits was especially pronounced for children. However, SNAP participation increased the probability of needing but not being able to afford prescription medicine, and increased psychological distress for adults and behavioural problems for children under age 10. CONCLUSIONS: SNAP's benefits for adult health and improved access to dental and vision care for adults and children suggest benefits from the program's expansions during the current COVID-induced crisis. Predicted negative effects of SNAP participation suggest the need for attention to program and benefit structure to avoid harm and the need for continued research to explore the causal effects of program participation.