The Oregon Experiment — Effects of Medicaid

The Oregon Experiment — Effects of Medicaid on Clinical Outcomes

Conclusions

This randomized, controlled study showed that Medicaid coverage generated no significant improvements in measured physical health outcomes in the first 2 years, but it did increase use of health care services, raise rates of diabetes detection and management, lower rates of depression, and reduce financial strain.

In other words, while increasing the cost of providing health services compared to those who were not being subsidized by Medicaid, the increased cost, born by the taxpayers of both the Union and in the State of Oregon, generated no significant improvements in the overall health of those who were covered by Medicaid compare to those who were not.

So much for the "progressive" argument that improved access to health care services will result in an overall improvement to the health of those who are being subsidized.

ETA: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1212321

Detecting diabetes early seems like it would save on future healthcare costs.

What the study showed was that those who were on Medicaid did not have significantly higher health outcomes than those that were not. It might have lowered their individual financial strain, but it didn't reduce the overall financial strain, nor did it reduce the overall cost of healthcare. In fact, it increased the cost of providing care without an appreciable difference being realized in their overall health outcome.

FredHayek wrote: Detecting diabetes early seems like it would save on future healthcare costs.

Yes. As does lowering rates of depression.