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Heterogeneous effects of health insurance on birth related outcomes: Unpacking compositional versus direct changes
Author(s) -
Ma Jie,
Simon Kosali
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
contemporary economic policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.454
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1465-7287
pISSN - 1074-3529
DOI - 10.1111/coep.12515
Subject(s) - affect (linguistics) , health insurance , unpacking , pregnancy , health care , medicine , environmental health , demography , psychology , demographic economics , economics , economic growth , linguistics , philosophy , communication , sociology , biology , genetics
When women of childbearing age gain health insurance, comparing birth outcomes that occur before and after policy changes may confound two separate impacts of coverage. Health insurance could affect who gives birth and also directly improve maternal and child health. We address this question using the Affordable Care Act young adult provision, comparing birth outcomes of 24–25 years to outcomes among older young adults. We show that the composition of mothers shifted toward less advantaged groups. Accounting for this shift, we find direct improvements in prenatal care and pregnancy‐related health but no statistically significant improvements in infant health.