| Title | Why Do the Elderly Save? The Role of Medical Expenses |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2010 |
| Authors | De Nardi, M, French, E, Jones, JBailey |
| Journal | The Journal of Political Economy |
| Volume | 118 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 39 |
| Keywords | Consumption and Savings, Expectations, Healthcare, Other, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction |
| Abstract | This paper constructs a model of saving for retired single people that includes heterogeneity in medical expenses and life expectancies, and bequest motives. We estimate the model using Assets and Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old data and the method of simulated moments. Out-of-pocket medical expenses rise quickly with age and permanent income. The risk of living long and requiring expensive medical care is a key driver of saving for many higher-income elderly. Social insurance programs such as Medicaid rationalize the low asset holdings of the poorest but also benefit the rich by insuring them against high medical expenses at the ends of their lives. |
| URL | http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/pqdweb?did=2021386431andFmt=7andclientId=17822andRQT=309andVName=PQD |
| Endnote Keywords | Health care expenditures/Retirees/Single persons/Life expectancy/Savings/Out of pocket costs/Studies |
| Endnote ID | 22880 |
| Citation Key | 7472 |
