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Effects of Infertility Insurance Mandates on Fertility

Author

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  • Schmidt Lucie

    (Williams College)

Abstract

Infertility currently affects over 6 million individuals in the United States. While most health insurance plans nationwide do not cover infertility diagnoses or treatments, to date fifteen states have enacted some form of infertility insurance mandate. In this paper, I use data from the Vital Statistics Detail Natality Data and Census population estimates to examine whether these state-level mandates were successful in increasing fertility rates. Using a difference-in-differences approach, I exploit variation in the enactment of mandates both across states and over time, and identify control groups that should not have been affected by infertility coverage. My results suggest that the mandates significantly increase first birth rates for women over 35, and these results are robust to a number of specification tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Schmidt Lucie, 2005. "Effects of Infertility Insurance Mandates on Fertility," Labor and Demography 0511014, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpla:0511014
    Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 33
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    infertility; impaired fecundity; insurance mandates; fertility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J - Labor and Demographic Economics

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