Journal article
Genetic variation in health insurance coverage
International journal of health economics and management, Vol.19(3-4), pp.301-316
11/12/2018
DOI: 10.1007/s10754-018-9255-y
PMID: 30421388
Abstract
We provide the first investigation into whether and how much genes explain having health insurance coverage or not and possible mechanisms for genetic variation. Using a twin-design that compares identical and non-identical twins from a national sample of US twins from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, we find that genetic effects explain over 40% of the variation in whether a person has any health coverage versus not, and nearly 50% of the variation in whether individuals younger than 65 have private coverage versus whether they have no coverage at all. Nearly one third of the genetic variation in being uninsured versus having private coverage is explained by employment industry, self-employment status, and income, and together with education, they explain over 40% of the genetic influence. Marital status, number of children, and available measures of health status, risk preferences, and prevention effort do not appear to be important channels for genetic effects. That genes have meaningful effects on the insurance status suggests an important source of heterogeneity in insurance take up.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Genetic variation in health insurance coverage
- Creators
- George L Wehby - Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Department of Economics, University of Iowa, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Iowa, Public Policy Center, University of Iowa, National Bureau of Economic ResearchDan Shane - Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of health economics and management, Vol.19(3-4), pp.301-316
- Publisher
- Springer US
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10754-018-9255-y
- PMID
- 30421388
- ISSN
- 2199-9023
- eISSN
- 2199-9031
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/12/2018
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Health Management and Policy; Economics; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984214683002771
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