This paper examines the impact of increased Medicaid eligibility on children's health care utilization and health outcomes. The authors use data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to analyze the effects of Medicaid expansions from 1984 to 1992. Key findings include: 1. **Eligibility and Coverage**: The expansion of Medicaid eligibility for low-income children significantly increased the number of children eligible for public insurance, but the increase in coverage was less steep, suggesting low takeup rates among newly eligible children. 2. **Utilization of Medical Care**: Being made eligible for Medicaid significantly increased the probability of having a doctor's visit in the previous year by 13.1% and hospitalizations by 19.3%. However, there was also an increase in the use of hospital-based services, indicating inefficient care delivery. 3. **Site of Care**: There was a significant increase in visits to doctor's offices (4 percentage points) and hospitals (2 percentage points), but a decrease in visits to other sites (1.7 percentage points). 4. **Health Outcomes**: While there was no statistically significant effect on reported health status, the TSLS results suggest that increased Medicaid eligibility may be associated with worse health outcomes, though this is not statistically significant. 5. **Racial and Educational Disparities**: The expansions did not narrow racial and educational disparities in utilization and health, as previously observed. The authors conclude that while Medicaid expansions increased access to care, they did not necessarily improve health outcomes, highlighting the need for further research to understand the mechanisms behind these effects.This paper examines the impact of increased Medicaid eligibility on children's health care utilization and health outcomes. The authors use data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to analyze the effects of Medicaid expansions from 1984 to 1992. Key findings include: 1. **Eligibility and Coverage**: The expansion of Medicaid eligibility for low-income children significantly increased the number of children eligible for public insurance, but the increase in coverage was less steep, suggesting low takeup rates among newly eligible children. 2. **Utilization of Medical Care**: Being made eligible for Medicaid significantly increased the probability of having a doctor's visit in the previous year by 13.1% and hospitalizations by 19.3%. However, there was also an increase in the use of hospital-based services, indicating inefficient care delivery. 3. **Site of Care**: There was a significant increase in visits to doctor's offices (4 percentage points) and hospitals (2 percentage points), but a decrease in visits to other sites (1.7 percentage points). 4. **Health Outcomes**: While there was no statistically significant effect on reported health status, the TSLS results suggest that increased Medicaid eligibility may be associated with worse health outcomes, though this is not statistically significant. 5. **Racial and Educational Disparities**: The expansions did not narrow racial and educational disparities in utilization and health, as previously observed. The authors conclude that while Medicaid expansions increased access to care, they did not necessarily improve health outcomes, highlighting the need for further research to understand the mechanisms behind these effects.