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Research ArticleArticles

In Sickness and in Health

Interaction Effects of State and Federal Health Insurance Coverage Mandates on Marriage of Young Adults

View ORCID ProfileScott Barkowski and View ORCID ProfileJoanne Song McLaughlin
Journal of Human Resources, March 2022, 57 (2) 637-688; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.57.2.0118-9295R2
Scott Barkowski
Scott Barkowski is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Clemson University .
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Joanne Song McLaughlin
Joanne Song McLaughlin is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
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Abstract

We study the interaction of state and federal dependent health insurance mandates on young adult marriages. Using a new data set on state-level mandates, we show marriage restrictions of these laws reduced marriage likelihoods by about two percentage points. When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted, its mandate ended marriage restrictions, encouraging marriage among those previously eligible for state mandates. However, among those ineligible for state mandates, it discouraged marrying to obtain insurance through spouses. The combination of these contrasting ACA effects eliminated the marriage gap. We also find these marriage effects resulted in corresponding impacts on out-of-wedlock births.

JEL Classification:
  • H75
  • I13
  • I18
  • J12
  • J13
  • J18
  • K0
  • Received January 2018.
  • Accepted January 2020.
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Journal of Human Resources: 57 (2)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 57, Issue 2
1 Mar 2022
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In Sickness and in Health
Scott Barkowski, Joanne Song McLaughlin
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2022, 57 (2) 637-688; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.2.0118-9295R2

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In Sickness and in Health
Scott Barkowski, Joanne Song McLaughlin
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2022, 57 (2) 637-688; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.2.0118-9295R2
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Restricted Pathways to Coverage and the Rise of Mandates
    • III. Marriage and the Interaction between State and Federal Health Insurance Mandates
    • IV. Empirical Strategy
    • V. State Dependent Coverage Mandates
    • VI. Results
    • VII. Conclusions
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    • References
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Keywords

  • H75
  • I13
  • I18
  • J12
  • J13
  • J18
  • K0
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