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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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    4. Cesur, Resul & Güneş, Pınar Mine & Tekin, Erdal & Ulker, Aydogan, 2017. "The value of socialized medicine: The impact of universal primary healthcare provision on mortality rates in Turkey," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 75-93.
    5. Bhalotra, Sonia & Fernandez, Manuel, 2021. "The Right to Health and the Health Effects of Denials," CEPR Discussion Papers 16642, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Sophie Mitra & Michael Palmer & Shannon Pullaro & Daniel Mont & Nora Groce, 2017. "Health Insurance and Children in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Review," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 93(302), pages 484-500, September.
    7. Noghanibehambari, Hamid & Fletcher, Jason, 2023. "Long-Term Health Benefits of Occupational Licensing: Evidence from Midwifery Laws," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    8. de la Mata, Dolores & Gaviria, Carlos Felipe, 2015. "Losing health insurance when young: Impacts on usage of medical services and health," Research Department working papers 766, CAF Development Bank Of Latinamerica.
    9. 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).
    10. 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.
    11. Santosh Kumar & Fidel Gonzalez, 2018. "Effects of health insurance on birth weight in Mexico," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(8), pages 1149-1159, August.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. 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).
    17. Mattos, Enlinson & Mazetto, Debora, 2019. "Assessing the impact of more doctors’ program on healthcare indicators in Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    18. 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.
    19. 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).
    20. 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).
    21. 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.
    22. 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.

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