Healthcare disparities stories

Sep 28, 2026

Study finds Medicaid beneficiaries with autism live 14 years less than general public

New research led by Guohua Li reveals that Medicaid beneficiaries with autism have significantly shorter lifespans than both other Medicaid beneficiaries and the general population, highlighting substantial health challenges faced by this vulnerable group throughout their lives.

Sep 28, 20262 sources

Top claims

▪Starting in January 2027, new work mandates for select Medicaid recipients will take effect nationwide under President Donald Trump's 2025 tax and policy legislation.
▪A JAMA Network Open study of United States Medicaid beneficiaries in 2000-2020 found those with autism had a 64.9-year life expectancy, 5.6 years shorter than Medicaid beneficiaries overall and nearly 14 years shorter than the general United States public.
▪In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the life expectancy for people with autism by 4.1 years, which was nearly twice the reduction experienced by the general United States population.

Subtopics

Autism & broader neurodiversity1 Medicare policy1 Public health research1

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