Graduation Year

2010

Publication Date

Spring 4-23-2010

Embargo Period

4-23-2010

Abstract

Having health insurance is a crucial factor for many to sustain life in America. This study examines the demographic determinants of health care coverage within the United States with a focus on how gender and marital status influence the likelihood of having health insurance. Using the human capital theory and the theory of statistical discrimination, it is predicted that married females will have a higher probability of being insured than divorced and separated females. Also, divorced males are predicted to have a higher probability of coverage than divorced females. The data for this research is retrieved from the United States Census Bureau Current Population Survey and consists of a large sample of adults aged 30 to 65. An OLS and probit regression are used to conduct this study, as well as descriptive statistics. The principle finding is that married adults have a much higher probability of having insurance than single, divorced, and widowed adults. It is also found that men and women do not differ greatly in their likelihood of having health insurance. One exception is that single, divorced and widowed women are somewhat less likely to have employer provided insurance than their male counterparts.

Disciplines

Econometrics | Economics | Labor Economics | Medicine and Health Sciences

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