Gender Differences in Medical Evaluations: Evidence from Randomly Assigned Doctors

Marika Cabral and Marcus Dillender

No 29541, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Little is known about what drives gender disparities in health care and related social insurance benefits. Using data and variation from the Texas workers’ compensation program, we study the impact of gender match between doctors and patients on medical evaluations and associated disability benefits. Compared to differences among their male patient counterparts, female patients randomly assigned a female doctor rather than a male doctor are 5.2% more likely to be evaluated as disabled and receive 8.6% more subsequent cash benefits on average. There is no analogous gender-match effect for male patients. Our estimates indicate that increasing the share of female patients evaluated by female doctors may substantially shrink gender gaps in medical evaluations and associated outcomes.

JEL-codes: I11 I14 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gen, nep-hea, nep-ias and nep-lab
Note: EH LS PE AG
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published as Marika Cabral & Marcus Dillender, 2024. "Gender Differences in Medical Evaluations: Evidence from Randomly Assigned Doctors," American Economic Review, vol 114(2), pages 462-499.

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Journal Article: Gender Differences in Medical Evaluations: Evidence from Randomly Assigned Doctors (2024)
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