Health Reform, Health Insurance, and Selection: Estimating Selection into Health Insurance Using the Massachusetts Health Reform / Martin B. Hackmann, Jonathan T. Kolstad, Amanda E. Kowalski.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hackmann, Martin B.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Kolstad, Jonathan T.

Kowalski, Amanda E.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w17748.

NBER working paper series no. w17748

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2012.

Summary:

We implement an empirical test for selection into health insurance using changes in coverage induced by the introduction of mandated health insurance in Massachusetts. Our test examines changes in the cost of the newly insured relative to those who were insured prior to the reform. We find that counties with larger increases in insurance coverage over the reform period face the smallest increase in average hospital costs for the insured population, consistent with adverse selection into insurance before the reform. Additional results, incorporating cross-state variation and data on health measures, provide further evidence for adverse selection.

Notes:

Print version record

January 2012.