Original Investigation
Pediatrics

October 13, 2023

Health Insurance and Differences in Infant Mortality Rates in the US

Desalyn L. Johnson, BS1; Waldemar A. Carlo, MD2; A. K. M. Fazlur Rahman, PhD3; et alRachel Tindal, MD4; Sarah G. Trulove, MBA1; Mykaela J. Watt, BS, BA1; Colm P. Travers, MD2

JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(10):e2337690. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.37690

Key Points

Question Is health insurance type associated with differences in infant mortality rates?

Findings In this cohort study of more than 13 million infants in the US, maternal private health insurance was associated with a lower risk of infant mortality and adverse infant outcomes compared with Medicaid public health insurance.

Meaning These findings suggest that there may be opportunities to improve access to care and reduce infant mortality among Medicaid-insured pregnancies in the US.

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