How does losing health insurance affect disability claims? Evidence from the Affordable Care Act's dependent care mandate

B-Tier
Journal: Health Economics
Year: 2021
Volume: 30
Issue: 5
Pages: 932-950

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We estimate the impacts of losing access to parental health insurance on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) participation, focusing on the age‐26 limit for dependent coverage. We analyze the age pattern of SSI claims to develop counterfactual predictions that assume no change in access to insurance. Relative to this prediction, we find a 3.4% spike in SSI applications in the months immediately surrounding the 26th birthday, along with a slightly smaller increase in awards. These claims are primarily motivated by losing coverage; there might be more direct ways to address unmet insurance needs without also increasing reliance on cash payments.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:hlthec:v:30:y:2021:i:5:p:932-950
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25