Effect of health insurance in India: a randomized controlled trial

Anup Malani, Phoebe Holtzman, Kosuke Imai, Cynthia Kinnan, Morgen Miller, Shailender Swaminathan, Alessandra Voena, Bartosz Woda and Gabriella Conti
Additional contact information
Anup Malani: Institute for Fiscal Studies
Phoebe Holtzman: Institute for Fiscal Studies
Kosuke Imai: Institute for Fiscal Studies
Morgen Miller: Institute for Fiscal Studies
Shailender Swaminathan: Institute for Fiscal Studies
Alessandra Voena: Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of Chicago
Bartosz Woda: Institute for Fiscal Studies

No W21/47, IFS Working Papers from Institute for Fiscal Studies

Abstract: We report on a large randomized controlled trial of hospital insurance for above-poverty-line Indian households. Households were assigned to free insurance, sale of insurance, sale plus cash transfer, or control. To estimate spillovers, the fraction of households offered insurance varied across villages. The opportunity to purchase insurance led to 59.91% uptake and access to free insurance to 78.71% uptake. Access increased insurance utilization. Positive spillover effects on utilization suggest learning from peers. Many beneficiaries were unable to use insurance, demonstrating hurdles to expanding access via insurance. Across a range of health measures, we estimate no significant impacts on health.

Date: 2021-12-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cwa, nep-exp, nep-hea, nep-his and nep-ias
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Effect of Health Insurance in India: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2021)
Working Paper: Effect of Health Insurance in India: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2021)
Working Paper: Effect of Health Insurance in India: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2021)
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