Working Paper: NBER ID: w18200
Authors: Yaa Akosa Antwi; Asako S. Moriya; Kosali Simon
Abstract: We study the health insurance and labor market implications of the recent Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision that allows dependents to remain on parental policies until age 26 using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Our comparison of outcomes for young adults aged 19-25 with those who are older and younger, before and after the law, shows a high take-up of parental coverage, resulting in substantial reductions in uninsurance and other forms of coverage. We also find preliminary evidence of increased labor market flexibility in the form of reduced work hours.
Keywords: Affordable Care Act; Dependent Coverage; Health Insurance; Labor Market
JEL Codes: I13; I28
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| ACA dependent coverage mandate (G52) | parental employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) coverage (J32) |
| parental employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) coverage (J32) | uninsurance rates (I13) |
| ACA dependent coverage mandate (G52) | uninsurance rates (I13) |
| ACA dependent coverage mandate (G52) | own-name ESI (H13) |
| ACA dependent coverage mandate (G52) | individually purchased nongroup insurance (G52) |
| ACA dependent coverage mandate (G52) | work hours among young adults (J29) |
| ACA dependent coverage mandate (G52) | full-time employment among young adults (J29) |