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Effects of Subsidized Health Insurance on Newborn Health in a Developing Country

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  • Adriana Camacho
  • Emily Conover

Abstract

Colombia's rapid and considerable expansion of health insurance coverage in the 1990s provides an opportunity to evaluate in a developing country whether health insurance improves health outcomes. Using administrative data and a regression discontinuity design, we find that babies born from mothers with health insurance have a lower incidence of low birth weight. We also find some indication that mothers with health insurance had better access to health facilities. These results are robust to different specifications and sample restrictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriana Camacho & Emily Conover, 2013. "Effects of Subsidized Health Insurance on Newborn Health in a Developing Country," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 61(3), pages 633-658.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/669263
    DOI: 10.1086/669263
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    7. Gabriella Conti & Rita Ginja, 2023. "Who Benefits from Free Health Insurance?: Evidence from Mexico," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 58(1), pages 146-182.
    8. Pfutze, Tobias, 2014. "The Effects of Mexico’s Seguro Popular Health Insurance on Infant Mortality: An Estimation with Selection on the Outcome Variable," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 475-486.
    9. Darius Erlangga & Marc Suhrcke & Shehzad Ali & Karen Bloor, 2019. "The impact of public health insurance on health care utilisation, financial protection and health status in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, August.
    10. Bhalotra, Sonia & Fernandez, Manuel, 2021. "The Right to Health and the Health Effects of Denials," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1376, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    11. Dolores De la Mata & Carlos Felipe Gaviria, 2015. "Losing Health Insurance When Young: Impacts on Usage of Medical Services and Health," CINCH Working Paper Series 1508, Universitaet Duisburg-Essen, Competent in Competition and Health, revised Aug 2015.
    12. Sandoval Moreno, Carlos, 2019. "Three essays on poverty measurement and risk protection," Other publications TiSEM 934c114b-7dce-431b-a613-a, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    13. Mauricio Villamizar‐Villegas & Freddy A. Pinzon‐Puerto & Maria Alejandra Ruiz‐Sanchez, 2022. "A comprehensive history of regression discontinuity designs: An empirical survey of the last 60 years," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1130-1178, September.
    14. Huang, Wei & Liu, Hong, 2023. "Early childhood exposure to health insurance and adolescent outcomes: Evidence from rural China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    15. Arenas, Erika & Parker, Susan W. & Rubalcava, Luis & Teruel, Graciela, 2023. "Impact of health insurance on adult mortality in rural areas: Evidence of Seguro Popular in Mexico using panel data," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 30(C).
    16. Gaviria Garcés, Carlos Felipe & De la Mata, Dolores, 2016. "Losing health insurance when young: Impacts on usage of medical services and health in Colombia," Papeles en Salud 15113, Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social.
    17. Camilo Bohorquez-Penuela, 2020. "Subsidized Health Care and Food Security: Evidence from Colombia," Borradores de Economia 1103, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    18. Bhalotra, Sonia R. & Rocha, Rudi & Soares, Rodrigo R., 2019. "Does Universalization of Health Work? Evidence from Health Systems Restructuring and Expansion in Brazil," IZA Discussion Papers 12111, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    19. Sonia Bhalotra & Rudi Rocha & Rodrigo R. Soares, 2020. "Can Universalization of Health Work? Evidence from Health Systems Restructuring and Expansion in Brazil," Working Papers 03, Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde.
    20. Cong Tam Trinh & Minh-Tri Ha & Nhut Quang Ho & Tho Alang, 2023. "National culture, public health spending and life insurance consumption: an international comparison," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
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    22. Cesur, Resul & Gunes, Pinar Mine & Tekin, Erdal & Ulker, Aydogan, 2015. "The Value of Socialized Medicine: The Impact of Universal Primary Healthcare Provision on Birth and Mortality Rates in Turkey," IZA Discussion Papers 9329, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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