The Impact of Medicaid on Private Care for the Urban Poor

A study of former welfare clients in New York City investigates the extent to which Medicaid opened up private medical care for the urban poor. Seven hundred and twenty-nine respondents were interviewed on all live interview waves; three before Medicaid and two after. The proportion who considered a private doctor their “main place” for medical care rose from 1 per cent before Medicaid to 10 per cent afterwards. The large majority continued to use clinics. Some who preferred private core were unable to take advantage of it because of practical barriers, but many others claimed to prefer clinic care.