The Long-Term Effect of Health Insurance on Near-Elderly Health and Mortality

TitleThe Long-Term Effect of Health Insurance on Near-Elderly Health and Mortality
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsBlack, B, Espín-Sánchez, J-A, French, E, Litvak, K
InstitutionEvanston, IL, Northwestern University Law Schoo
KeywordsHealth Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance, Methodology
Abstract

We use the best available longitudinal dataset, the Health and Retirement Survey, and a battery of causal inference methods to provide both central estimates and bounds on the effect of health insurance on health and mortality among the near elderly (initial age 50-61) over an 18-year period. Those uninsured in 1992 consume fewer healthcare services, but are not less healthy and, in our central estimates, do not die sooner than their insured counterparts. We discuss why a zero average effect of uninsurance on mortality and health is plausible, some selection effects that might explain our full results, and methodological concerns with prior studies.

Endnote Keywords

health insurance/Medicare/healthcare utilization/Mortality/Methodology

Endnote ID

999999

Citation Key5849