Welfare reform and childhood health status and utilization

I examine the impact of the implementation of the 1990s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, commonly referred to as welfare reform, on objective and subjective measures of child health, healthcare uti-lization, and insurance coverage. I find that exposure to welfare reform in childhood is associated with an increased likelihood of chronic physical health conditions, lower healthcare utilization, and a higher rate of private insurance coverage. Given the evidence in the literature of the importance of childhood health, these findings potentially have significant ramifications for future adult health.