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 .
Adult outcomes as a function of an early childhood educational program: an Abecedarian Project follow-up.
Adult ( age 30 )  educational , economic , and social-emotional adjustment outcomes were investigated for participants in the Abecedarian Project , a r and omized controlled trial of  early childhood education for children from low-income families . Of the original 111 infants enrolled ( 98 % African American ) , 101 took part in the age 30 follow-up . Primary indicators of educational level , economic status , and social adjustment were examined as a function of early childhood treatment . Treated individuals attained significantly more years of education , but income-to-needs ratios and criminal involvement did not vary significantly as a function of early treatment . A number of other indicators were described for each domain . Overall , the findings provide strong evidence for educational benefits , mixed evidence for economic benefits , and little evidence for treatment-related social adjustment outcomes . Implication s for public policy are discussed
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 .