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The Right to Health and the Health Effects of Denials

Author

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  • Bhalotra, Sonia
  • Fernandez, Manuel

Abstract

We investigate supply-side barriers to medical care in Colombia, where citizens have a constitutional right to health, but insurance companies impose restrictions. We use administrative data on judicial claims for health as a proxy for unmet demand. We validate this using the health services utilization register, showing that judicial claims map into large, pervasive decreases in medical consultations, procedures, hospitalizations and emergency care. This manifests in population health outcomes. We identify increases in mortality pervasive across cause, age and sex, with larger increases for cancer, individuals over the age of fifty, women and the poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhalotra, Sonia & Fernandez, Manuel, 2021. "The Right to Health and the Health Effects of Denials," CEPR Discussion Papers 16642, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16642
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Helo Sarmiento, Juliana, 2023. "Into the tropics: Temperature, mortality, and access to health care in Colombia," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Cindy Chamorro & Manuel Fernández & Oscar Espinosa, 2025. "The effect of the exit of an insurer, due to government liquidation, on access to health care: evidence from Colombia," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 51-65, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • K38 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Human Rights Law; Gender Law; Animal Rights Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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