Working Paper

• The Effect Of Access To Mental Health Care On Health Behaviors (Job Market Paper)

This study explores the relationship between mental health and health behaviors by focusing on the effects of the number of mental health providers on risky health behaviors and preventive health behaviors of adults younger than 65 years old using data from the 2006-2013 waves of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The analysis shows that better access to office-based mental health providers has positive effects on health and health behaviors evidenced by less drinking, more exercise, and reduced probability of obesity. There is no evidence of a significant effect of improved access to mental health care on preventive health behaviors like routine checkups and taking flu shots.

• Do Misperceptions about Medicare Coverage Explain Low Demand for Long-Term Care Insurance? (With Padmaja Ayyagari and Daifeng He)

Long-term care represents a significant financial risk for most individuals. Despite this risk, only 14% of persons aged 60 or over have private long-term care insurance (LTCI) and about one-third of expenses are paid for out-of-pocket. In this study, we examine whether misperceptions about Medicare coverage explains the low demand for LTCI. Surveys of older Americans find that about 40% of individuals believe that Medicare will pay for long-term care. However, Medicare only provides limited coverage of short term stays in skilled nursing facilities under specific circumstances. Using a regression discontinuity design (RDD) based on eligibility for Medicare at age 65, we document a statistically significant increase in the demand for private LTCI once an individual becomes eligible for Medicare coverage. A potential explanation for this change is that individuals learn that Medicare does not cover long-term care services during the process of enrolling in Medicare and therefore purchase private LTCI. Using data from a unique survey on awareness and planning for long-term care, we find a significant decrease in the proportion of individuals reporting that Medicare pays the most for long-term care services at age 65, providing support for the information hypothesis.

• The Effect of the "Doughnut Hole" Closure In Medicare Part D on Prescription Expenditure and Utilization

• Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Worker’s Compensation