Our comprehensive review and meta- analysis of these experiments find suggestive evidence of health benefits associated with investments in early life , income support , and health insurance interventions .
Housing and neighborhood trials had no effect on the outcomes included in the meta-analyses .
A positive effect of the trial on its primary socioeconomic outcome was associated with higher odds of reporting health improvements .
Early life , income , and health insurance interventions have the potential to improve health .
Policy Points Social policies might not only improve economic well-being , but also health .
Health policy experts have therefore advocated for investments in social policies both to improve population health and potentially reduce health system costs .
Since the 1960s , a large number of social policies have been experimentally evaluated in the United States .
Some of these experiments include health outcomes , providing a unique opportunity to inform evidence -based policymaking .
CONTEXT Insurers and health care providers are investing heavily in nonmedical social interventions in an effort to improve health and potentially reduce health care costs .
Cost Effectiveness of the Earned Income Tax Credit as a Health Policy Investment.
INTRODUCTION Lower-income Americans are suffering from declines in income , health , and longevity over time . Income and employment policies have been proposed as a potential non-medical solution to this problem . METHODS An interrupted time series analysis of state-level incremental supplements to the Earned Income Tax Credit ( EITC ) program  was performed using data from 1993 to 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys and state-level life expectancy . The cost effectiveness of state EITC supplements was estimated using a microsimulation model , which was run in 2015 . RESULTS Supplemental EITC programs  increased health-related quality of life and longevity among the poor . The program costs about $ 7,786/ quality -adjusted life-year gained ( 95 % CI=$4,100 , $ 13,400 ) for the average recipient . This ratio increases with larger family sizes , costing roughly $ 14,261 ( 95 % CI=$8,735 , $ 19,716 ) for a family of three . CONCLUSIONS State supplements to EITC appear to be highly cost effective , but r and omized trials are needed to confirm these findings
Our comprehensive review and meta- analysis of these experiments find suggestive evidence of health benefits associated with investments in early life , income support , and health insurance interventions .
Housing and neighborhood trials had no effect on the outcomes included in the meta-analyses .
A positive effect of the trial on its primary socioeconomic outcome was associated with higher odds of reporting health improvements .
Early life , income , and health insurance interventions have the potential to improve health .
Policy Points Social policies might not only improve economic well-being , but also health .
Health policy experts have therefore advocated for investments in social policies both to improve population health and potentially reduce health system costs .
Since the 1960s , a large number of social policies have been experimentally evaluated in the United States .
Some of these experiments include health outcomes , providing a unique opportunity to inform evidence -based policymaking .
CONTEXT Insurers and health care providers are investing heavily in nonmedical social interventions in an effort to improve health and potentially reduce health care costs .