About the Project

Young Black men in the U.S. face some of the highest rates of suicide and homicide—often 20 times higher than their White peers—because of long-standing systemic discrimination and inequities in economic opportunity. Medicaid expansion, a key part of the Affordable Care Act, has been linked to lower death rates in the general population, but we still don’t know whether it has helped young Black men specifically. This study will examine whether states that expanded Medicaid saw greater reductions in suicide and homicide among Black men ages 15–30 compared to states that did not. By analyzing national mortality data and accounting for differences in state policies and economic conditions, the project aims to determine whether expanding health insurance coverage can help reduce the disproportionate burden of violent deaths in this population. Ultimately, the findings may show how a major health policy can be used as a tool to improve equity and save lives.