More importantly, research studies consistently showed Medicaid to be a cost-effective program for lower-income persons because it provided financial protections, increased rates of preventive screenings, and improved health. One 2015 study, plainly titled “Considering Whether Medicaid Is Worth the Cost,” found that the benefit of providing Medicaid was “$62,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained” and that states that invested in Medicaid and its expansions saw an average net return of $68,000 per enrollee.21
