HEALTH INSURANCE, FERTILITY, AND THE WANTEDNESS OF PREGNANCIES: EVIDENCE FROM MASSACHUSETTS

Maria Apostolova-Mihaylova; Aaron Yelowitz

doi:10.1111/coep.12235

HEALTH INSURANCE, FERTILITY, AND THE WANTEDNESS OF PREGNANCIES: EVIDENCE FROM MASSACHUSETTS

Maria Apostolova-Mihaylova, Aaron Yelowitz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Health insurance reform in Massachusetts lowered the cost of both pregnancy (by increased coverage of pregnancy-related medical events) and pregnancy prevention (by increasing access to reliable contraception). We empirically examine fertility responses and find no overall effect from increased coverage due to the Massachusetts reform. This finding, however, masks substantial heterogeneity. For married women aged 20 to 34—with high latent fertility and pregnancy wantedness—fertility increased by approximately 1%. For unmarried women in the same age range—for whom pregnancies are typically unwanted—fertility declined by 8%. (JEL I13, I18, J13).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	59-72
Number of pages	14
Journal	Contemporary Economic Policy
Volume	36
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.12235
State	Published - Jan 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Western Economic Association International

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Business, Management and Accounting (all)
Economics and Econometrics
Public Administration

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10.1111/coep.12235

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HEALTH INSURANCE, FERTILITY, AND THE WANTEDNESS OF PREGNANCIES: EVIDENCE FROM MASSACHUSETTS

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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