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Health Inequality and Health Insurance Coverage: The United States and China Compared

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  • Costa-Font, Joan

    (London School of Economics)

  • Cowell, Frank A.

    (London School of Economics)

  • Shi, Xuezhu

    (Peking University)

Abstract

We study inequality in the distribution of self-assessed health (SAH) in the United States and China, two large countries that have expanded their insurance provisions in recent decades, but that lack universal coverage and differ in other social determinants of health. Using comparable health survey data from China and the United States, we compare health inequality trends throughout the period covering the public health insurance coverage expansions in the two countries. We find that whether SAH inequality is greater in the US or in China depends on the concept of status and the inequality-sensitivity parameter used; however, the regional pattern of SAH inequality is clearly associated with health-insurance coverage expansions in the US but not significant in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Costa-Font, Joan & Cowell, Frank A. & Shi, Xuezhu, 2023. "Health Inequality and Health Insurance Coverage: The United States and China Compared," IZA Discussion Papers 16629, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16629
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    health insurance coverage; self-assessed health; health inequality; social determinants of health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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