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How Effective Are Public Policies to Increase Health Insurance Coverage among Young Adults?

Author

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  • Phillip B. Levine
  • Robin McKnight
  • Samantha Heep

Abstract

This paper assesses the impact of policies to increase insurance coverage for young adults. The introduction of SCHIP in 1997 enabled low-income teens up to age 19 to gain access to public health insurance. More recent policies enabled young adults between the ages of 19 and (typically) 24 to remain covered under their parents' health insurance. We use the discrete break in coverage at age 19 to evaluate the impact of SCHIP, and quasi-experimental variation to evaluate the impact of "extended parental coverage" laws. Our results suggest that both types of policies were effective at increasing health insurance coverage. (JEL G22, H75, I18, J13)

Suggested Citation

  • Phillip B. Levine & Robin McKnight & Samantha Heep, 2011. "How Effective Are Public Policies to Increase Health Insurance Coverage among Young Adults?," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 3(1), pages 129-156, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:3:y:2011:i:1:p:129-56
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/pol.3.1.129
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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    1. How Effective Are Public Policies to Increase Health Insurance Coverage among Young Adults? (American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 2011) in ReplicationWiki

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