Do increased premium subsidies affect how much health insurance is purchased? Evidence from the self-employed

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Health Economics
Year: 2009
Volume: 28
Issue: 6
Pages: 1197-1210

Authors (2)

Heim, Bradley T. (Indiana University) Lurie, Ithai Z. (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

This paper estimates the effect of recent federal and state level increases in the deductibility of health insurance premiums for self-employed individuals, which reduced the after-tax price of health insurance, on both the take-up of coverage and the amount of insurance purchased. Using a panel of tax returns filed by self-employed taxpayers from 1999 to 2004, we estimate a take-up elasticity of -0.316 overall, with significantly higher elasticities for single taxpayers. On the intensive margin, we find an elasticity of -0.733 overall.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jhecon:v:28:y:2009:i:6:p:1197-1210
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-02-02