More Health (Insurance), Less Crime

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

We will examine the relationship between UCR crime rates and health care insurance coverage (including Medicaid, Medicare, VA/Tricare and Private/Employer coverage) for all 50 U.S. states between 1987 and 2012 while controlling for pertinent criminogenic state-level demographics, socioeconomic factors, policy changes such as welfare reform, insurance reforms such as HIPPA and the implementation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) using a growth curve model. Policy implications will also be discussed including the potential effects on the crime rate of the 2010 Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare.

Authors

• Jeffrey W. Rosky, University of Central Florida

• Lauren A. Manville, University of Central Florida

• Kristina Childs, University of Central Florida

• Roberto Hugh Potter, University of Central Florida