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Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health Behaviors after Three Years

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Listed:
  • Courtemanche, Charles

    (University of Kentucky)

  • Marton, James

    (Georgia State University)

  • Ukert, Benjamin

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Yelowitz, Aaron

    (University of Kentucky)

  • Zapata, Daniela

    (American Institutes for Research)

Abstract

This paper examines the impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – which substantially increased insurance coverage through regulations, mandates, subsidies, and Medicaid expansions – on behaviors related to future health risks after three years. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and an identification strategy that leverages variation in pre-ACA uninsured rates and state Medicaid expansion decisions, we show that the ACA increased preventive care utilization along several dimensions, but also increased risky drinking. These results are driven by the private portions of the law, as opposed to the Medicaid expansion. We also conduct subsample analyses by income and age.

Suggested Citation

  • Courtemanche, Charles & Marton, James & Ukert, Benjamin & Yelowitz, Aaron & Zapata, Daniela, 2018. "Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health Behaviors after Three Years," IZA Discussion Papers 11468, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11468
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Charles Courtemanche & James Marton & Benjamin Ukert & Aaron Yelowitz & Daniela Zapata, 2018. "Early Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health Care Access, Risky Health Behaviors, and Self‐Assessed Health," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 84(3), pages 660-691, January.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Affordable Care Act; health insurance; Medicaid; health behavior; obesity; smoking; drinking; preventive care; screening;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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