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An examination of the impact of health insurance enrollment in reducing racial health disparities

Author

Listed:
  • In Jung Song

    (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)

  • Inhyuck “Steve” Ha

    (Western Carolina University)

  • Won Fy Lee

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Minjung Choi

    (Ewha Womans University)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of health insurance enrollment on health disparities among different racial groups in the United States. Two models were constructed and estimated empirically where a health insurance disparity model was nested in the health disparity model. The Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method was used to measure potential racial discrimination in health status. The racial gap in health disparities was broken down by endowment and treatment effects. The results show that the health status gap can be explained by potential discrimination in health insurance enrollment between Blacks and Whites. Overall, health insurance enrollment plays a critical role in explaining racial disparities and a racial disparity in the healthcare industry explains a nontrivial portion of the differences in health status.

Suggested Citation

  • In Jung Song & Inhyuck “Steve” Ha & Won Fy Lee & Minjung Choi, 2024. "An examination of the impact of health insurance enrollment in reducing racial health disparities," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 48(1), pages 196-213, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecfin:v:48:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s12197-023-09650-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12197-023-09650-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Racial inequalities; Health disparity; Health insurance disparity; Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition; Equal treatment value; National health interview survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination

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