What can the take-up of other programs teach us about how to improve take-up of health insurance programs? / Dahlia K. Remler, Jason E. Rachlin, Sherry A. Glied.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Remler, Dahlia K.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Rachlin, Jason E.

Glied, Sherry A.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w8185.

NBER working paper series no. w8185

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2001.

Summary:

Many uninsured Americans are already eligible for free or low-cost public coverage through Medicaid or CHIP but do not take up that coverage. Several other programs, such as food stamps and unemployment insurance, also have less than complete take-up rates and take-up rates vary considerably among programs. This paper examines the take-up literature across a variety of programs to learn what effects non-financial features, such as administrative complexity, have on take-up. We find that making benefit receipt automatic is the most effective means of ensuring high take-up, while there is little evidence that stigma is important. Overall, surprisingly little is known about the quantitative impact, of non-financial characteristics of programs on take-up. New research that could be used to draw measurable causal inferences about how features as administrative complexity, renewal rules, and organizational structure affect participation, would be extremely valuable.

Notes:

Print version record

March 2001.