Health insurance coverage and self-reported health: new estimates from the NLSY97

Abstract

This paper provides new estimates of the relationship between health insurance coverage and health status of young adults using the confidential version of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 Cohort (NLSY97). Using a regression discontinuity design, I find that approximately 6 % of young adults lose their health insurance coverage once they turn 19. However, in contrast to the findings from the recent literature, the effect of this discrete change in health insurance coverage on self-reported health status of young adults is quite limited and often statistically insignificant.