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Health insurance coverage and marriage behavior: Is there evidence of marriage lock?

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  • Tianxu Chen

Abstract

Premiums and eligibility for health insurance may cause a “marriage lock,” in which couples stay married for the sake of maintaining health insurance coverage. By using the Health and Retirement Study for adults aged 60–70, I examine whether employer‐based health insurance coverage for the spouse discourages divorce for spousal health insurance coverage‐dependent individuals. Diverse difference‐in‐difference models provide evidence of a 7 percentage points increase in the number of divorces upon achieving Medicare eligibility at age 65 for people with spousal insurance coverage relative to those without it. The estimates thus provide evidence that marriage lock exists.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianxu Chen, 2023. "Health insurance coverage and marriage behavior: Is there evidence of marriage lock?," International Studies of Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(2), pages 136-158, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:intsec:v:18:y:2023:i:2:p:136-158
    DOI: 10.1002/ise3.45
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Elena Capatina & Hyunjae Kang, 2024. "Demand for Spousal Health," ANU Working Papers in Economics and Econometrics 2024-695, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics.

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