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Debtor Protection and Health Insurance: Evidence From Personal Bankruptcy Reform

Author

Listed:
  • Paolo Nicola Barbieri
  • Laura Bottazzi
  • Giuseppe Di Giacomo

Abstract

We investigate how the use of bankruptcy as an implicit health insurance varies across households, focusing on heterogeneity by asset holdings, race, marital status, and educational attainment. Using a difference-in-differences design based on the 2005 bankruptcy reform, we find that the reform modestly increased health insurance coverage among middle-income households unlikely to lose assets under Chapter 7, with stronger effects for married and less educated households. The reform primarily affected White households, suggesting racial disparities in bankruptcy use. Treated households also showed increased healthcare utilization and spending. These heterogeneous effects highlight how the reform may have deepened existing health and financial inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Nicola Barbieri & Laura Bottazzi & Giuseppe Di Giacomo, 2026. "Debtor Protection and Health Insurance: Evidence From Personal Bankruptcy Reform," CESifo Working Paper Series 12388, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12388
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    File URL: https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/cesifo1_wp12388.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D18 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Protection
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • K35 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Personal Bankruptcy Law

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