The Health Effects of Medicaid Unwinding and SNAP Retrenchment in a US-Mexico Border County

Abstract Background Recent studies reveal that the loss of social programs—including Medicaid and SNAP—has negative health impacts among former beneficiaries. Most studies examine these effects using national- or state-level surveys, so it remains unclear if the findings hold across local contexts. This paper examines whether Medicaid unwinding and SNAP loss affects physical and mental health in El Paso County, Texas, where cuts were implemented in 2023. Data and Methods Data consists of an original representative panel survey from El Paso County, conducted over two rounds in 2022 and 2023 (N=673). Using statistical analyses controlling for demographic variables, we analyze the association between Medicaid/SNAP program loss and health outcomes. Results Findings indicate that those who experienced the loss of benefits for a social policy program had worse mental health and physical health outcomes between rounds. The findings on program loss and physical health are more attenuated across model specifications. Discussion Social policy retrenchment has an immediate effect on mental health, while the physical health effects are likely lagged over time and a medium-term consequence of decreased healthcare utilization. These results have major implications for health and social policy implementation in predominantly Mexican American communities in an age of social policy retrenchment.