Ithai Zvi Lurie1. 1. U.S. Department of Treasury, Washington, DC 20220, USA. Ithai.lurie@do.treas.gov
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This paper tests for differences in the effect of State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on children's insurance coverage and physician visits across three age groups: pre-elementary school-aged children (pre-ESA), ESA children, and post-ESA children. DATA SOURCE: The study uses two cross sections of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) from the 1996 and 2001 panels. STUDY DESIGN: A difference-in-differences approach is used to estimate the effect of SCHIP on coverage and physician visits of newly eligible children of different age groups. DATA COLLECTION: Demographic, insurance, and physician visit information for children in families with income below 300 percent of federal poverty line were extracted from the SIPP. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Uninsurance rates for post-ESA children declined due to SCHIP while public coverage and the likelihood of visiting a physician increased. Estimates of cross-age differences show that post-ESA children experienced a larger decline in uninsurance rates compared with pre-ESA and ESA children and a larger increase in physician visits compared with ESA children. CONCLUSIONS: The higher rate of physician visits for post-ESA children due to SCHIP demonstrates the importance of extending insurance coverage to teens as well as young children.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This paper tests for differences in the effect of State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on children's insurance coverage and physician visits across three age groups: pre-elementary school-aged children (pre-ESA), ESA children, and post-ESA children. DATA SOURCE: The study uses two cross sections of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) from the 1996 and 2001 panels. STUDY DESIGN: A difference-in-differences approach is used to estimate the effect of SCHIP on coverage and physician visits of newly eligible children of different age groups. DATA COLLECTION: Demographic, insurance, and physician visit information for children in families with income below 300 percent of federal poverty line were extracted from the SIPP. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Uninsurance rates for post-ESA children declined due to SCHIP while public coverage and the likelihood of visiting a physician increased. Estimates of cross-age differences show that post-ESA children experienced a larger decline in uninsurance rates compared with pre-ESA and ESA children and a larger increase in physician visits compared with ESA children. CONCLUSIONS: The higher rate of physician visits for post-ESA children due to SCHIP demonstrates the importance of extending insurance coverage to teens as well as young children.