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Affordability of the health expenditures of insured americans before the affordable care act

Author

Listed:
  • Nyman, J.A.
  • Trenz, H.M.

Abstract

Central to the Affordable Care Act is the notion of affordability and the role of health insurance in making otherwise unaffordable health care affordable. We used data from the 1996 to 2008 versions of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to estimate the portion of overall health care expenditures by insured respondents that would otherwise have been beyond their disposable incomes and assets. We found that about one third of insured expenditures would have been unaffordable, with a much higher percentage among publicly insured individuals. This result suggests that one of the main functions of insurance is to cover expenses that insured individuals would not otherwise be able to afford.

Suggested Citation

  • Nyman, J.A. & Trenz, H.M., 2016. "Affordability of the health expenditures of insured americans before the affordable care act," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(2), pages 264-266.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2015.302958_3
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302958
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