Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: J Matthew  Hampton
Author-Name-First: J Matthew 
Author-Name-Last: Hampton
Author-Email: matt.hampton@uni.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: department of Economics, University of Northern Iowa
Author-Name: Otto Lenhart
Author-Name-First: Otto
Author-Name-Last: Lenhart
Author-Email: ottolenhart@strath.ac.uyk
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics
Title: 'Til insurance do us part:  the effect of the affordable care act preexisting conditions provision on marriage
Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of the 2014 Affordable Care Act pre-existing conditions provision on marriage.  The policy was implemented to prevent insurers from denying insurance coverage to individuals with health conditions.  We test whether the implementation of the provision led to decreases in marriage among affected adults.  We add to earlier work on how marital behaviour is influenced by policy incentives and examine for the presence of "marriage lock", a situation in which individuals remain married primarily for insurance.  Using data from 2009-2015 and difference-indifference models, we find that males with pre-existing conditions are 5.15 percentage points (6.4 percent) less likely to be married after the policy implementation.  Effects are largest for men who had insurance coverage prior to the policy change from a source other than his own employer, suggesting that the inability to attain individual coverage and reliance on spousal insurance provided incentives to remain married.
Length: 35 pages
Creation-Date: 2019-02
Revision-Date: 
Publication-Status: Published
File-URL: https://www.strath.ac.uk/media/1newwebsite/departmentsubject/economics/research/researchdiscussionpapers/19-02.pdf.pagespeed.ce.GCyx5ehnqG.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Number: 1902
Classification-JEL: J12, I13, D1
Keywords: Affordable care act, preexisting condititions, health insurance, marriage
Handle: RePEc:str:wpaper:1902