Work

Health Insurance Eligibility, Utilization of Medical Care, and Child Health

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: We study the effect of public insurance for children on their utilization of medical care and health outcomes by exploiting recent expansions of the Medicaid program to low-income children. These expansions doubled the fraction of children eligible for Medicaid between 1984 and 1992. Take-up of these expansions was much less than full, however, even among otherwise uninsured children. Despite this take-up problem, eligibility for Medicaid significantly increased the utilization of medical care, particularly care delivered in physicians' offices. Increased eligibility was also associated with a sizable and significant reduction in child mortality.

Source: The Quarterly Journal of Economics

DOI: 10.2307/2946684

Authors: J. Currie, J. Gruber

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Policy and Management

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2891479562