How including pregnancy as a qualifying life event can improve maternal and child health
Official title: The Impact of Including Pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event for Marketplace Special Enrollment on Child and Maternal Health
Funded at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. · NIH-11084516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how recognizing pregnancy as a special reason to sign up for health insurance could help expectant moms get the prenatal care they need, especially for those who don’t qualify for Medicaid or employer insurance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 6, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $419,713 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111508-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals who are seeking health insurance coverage and are currently outside the open enrollment period.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already enrolled in health insurance plans that provide comprehensive prenatal care may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of recognizing pregnancy as a qualifying life event for special enrollment in health insurance marketplaces. It aims to understand how this change could enhance access to timely prenatal care, which is crucial for improving health outcomes for both mothers and children. The study will analyze current enrollment policies and their impact on pregnant individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid or employer-sponsored insurance. By examining the barriers faced during enrollment, the research seeks to propose policy changes that could facilitate better access to necessary health services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to prenatal care for pregnant individuals, resulting in better health outcomes for mothers and their children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that policy changes in health insurance enrollment can significantly improve access to care, suggesting that this approach may also yield positive results.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
Canton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garabedian, Laura Faden — Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
- Study coordinator: Garabedian, Laura Faden
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.