Is Health Insurance Affordable for the Uninsured?

45 Pages Posted: 19 Oct 2002 Last revised: 12 Nov 2022

See all articles by Kate Bundorf

Kate Bundorf

Duke University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Mark V. Pauly

University of Pennsylvania - Health Care Systems Department; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: October 2002

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the meaning of affordability' in the context of health insurance. Assessing the relationship between the affordability of coverage and the large number of uninsured in the U.S. is important for understanding the barriers to purchasing coverage for the uninsured and evaluating the role of policy in reducing this number. We propose several definitions of affordability and examine the implications of alternative definitions on estimates of the proportion of currently uninsured who are unable to afford coverage. We find that, depending on the definition, health insurance was affordable to between one-quarter and three-quarters of the uninsured in 2000.

Suggested Citation

Bundorf, Kate and Pauly, Mark V., Is Health Insurance Affordable for the Uninsured? (October 2002). NBER Working Paper No. w9281, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=341850

Kate Bundorf (Contact Author)

Duke University

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Mark V. Pauly

University of Pennsylvania - Health Care Systems Department ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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