RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Partially Identifying Treatment Effects with an Application to Covering the Uninsured
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 409
OP 449
DO 10.3368/jhr.44.2.409
VO 44
IS 2
A1 Kreider, Brent
A1 Hill, Steven C.
YR 2009
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/44/2/409.abstract
AB We extend the nonparametric literature on partially identified probability distributions and use our analytical results to provide sharp bounds on the impact of universal health insurance on provider visits and medical expenditures. Our approach accounts for uncertainty about the reliability of self-reported insurance status as well as uncertainty created by unknown counterfactuals. We construct health insurance validation data using detailed information from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Imposing relatively weak nonparametric assumptions, we estimate that under universal coverage monthly per capita provider visits and expenditures would rise by less than 8 percent and 16 percent, respectively, across the nonelderly population.