The Value of Health Insurance: Evidence from a Field Experiment in India
Wednesday, February 26, 202012:00 PM - 1:30 PM (Pacific)
Encina Hall, Third Floor, Central, C330
616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
Given the significant health risks faced by households in developing countries, publicly provided health insurance may confer important benefits. Yet, demand for formal insurance is often found to be low. Since health insurance may be relatively unfamiliar to many households, understanding the factors that shape households’ demand for, and ability to utilize, insurance is important for research and policy. It is also important to understand the health and financial impacts of health insurance. We shed light on these questions using a two-stage randomized control trial in Karnataka, India. Many households are willing to pay for insurance. Households’ ability to successfully utilize the insurance is limited, however, especially when only a small fraction of the community has access to insurance. When a higher share of the community has access, households are more able to benefit, suggesting that harnessing community learning is important in designing the rollout of health insurance.
Advisory on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In accordance with university guidelines, if you (or a spouse/housemate) have returned from travel to mainland China in the last 14 days, we ask that you DO NOT come to campus until 14 days have passed since your return date and you remain symptom-free. For more information and updates, please refer to the Stanford Environmental Health & Safety website: https://ehs.stanford.edu/news/novel-coronavirus-covid-19