Health Insurance Availability and Entrepreneurship

Philip DeCicca
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Philip DeCicca: McMaster University
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Philip DeCicca

No 10-167, Upjohn Working Papers from W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Abstract: Despite a strong interest in entrepreneurship, economists have devoted little attention to the role of health insurance availability. I investigate the impact of a unique policy experiment—New Jersey’s Individual Health Coverage Plan—on self-employment. Implemented in August 1993, the IHCP included an extensive set of reforms that loosened the historical connection between traditional employment and health insurance by facilitating access to coverage that was not employer-linked. I find evidence that the IHCP increased self-employment among New Jersey residents, relative to various sets of comparison states. Consistent with key policy features, including pure community rating of premiums, I find larger behavioral responses for unmarried, older, and observably less-healthy individuals.

Keywords: Health Insurance; Entrepreneurship; Job Lock (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J32 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ent, nep-hea and nep-ias
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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