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The Effect of Medicare Eligibility on Spousal Insurance Coverage

Author

Listed:
  • Marcus Dillender

    (W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research)

  • Karen Mulligan

Abstract

A majority of married couples in the United States take advantage of the fact that employers often provide health insurance coverage to spouses. When the older spouses become eligible for Medicare, however, many of them can no longer provide their younger spouses with coverage. In this paper, we study how spousal eligibility for Medicare affects the health insurance and health care access of the younger spouse. We find spousal eligibility for Medicare results in the younger spouse having worse insurance coverage and reduced access to health care services.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus Dillender & Karen Mulligan, 2015. "The Effect of Medicare Eligibility on Spousal Insurance Coverage," Upjohn Working Papers 15-216, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:upj:weupjo:15-216
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    File URL: http://research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1233&context=up_workingpapers
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health Insurance; Medicare; Individual Market; Marriage; Employer Benefits; ACA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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