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Genetic variation in health insurance coverage

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  • George L. Wehby

    (University of Iowa
    University of Iowa
    University of Iowa
    University of Iowa)

  • Dan Shane

    (University of Iowa)

Abstract

We provide the first investigation into whether and how much genes explain having health insurance coverage or not and possible mechanisms for genetic variation. Using a twin-design that compares identical and non-identical twins from a national sample of US twins from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, we find that genetic effects explain over 40% of the variation in whether a person has any health coverage versus not, and nearly 50% of the variation in whether individuals younger than 65 have private coverage versus whether they have no coverage at all. Nearly one third of the genetic variation in being uninsured versus having private coverage is explained by employment industry, self-employment status, and income, and together with education, they explain over 40% of the genetic influence. Marital status, number of children, and available measures of health status, risk preferences, and prevention effort do not appear to be important channels for genetic effects. That genes have meaningful effects on the insurance status suggests an important source of heterogeneity in insurance take up.

Suggested Citation

  • George L. Wehby & Dan Shane, 2019. "Genetic variation in health insurance coverage," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 301-316, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ijhcfe:v:19:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s10754-018-9255-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10754-018-9255-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health insurance; Genetic variation; Health determinants; Risk taking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private

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