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  3. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
  4. August 2016
  5. Health Insurance Mandates, Mammography, and Breast Cancer Diagnoses

Health Insurance Mandates, Mammography, and Breast Cancer Diagnoses

  • Marianne P. Bitler
  • Christopher S. Carpenter
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 8, no. 3, August 2016
(pp. 39-68)
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Abstract

We examine the effects of state health insurance mandates requiring coverage of screening mammograms. We find evidence that mammography mandates significantly increased mammography screenings by 4.5-25 percent. Effects are larger for women with less than a high school degree in states that ban deductibles, a policy similar to a provision of federal health reform that eliminates cost-sharing for preventive care. We also find that mandates increased detection of early stage in-situ precancers. Finally, we find a substantial proportion of the increased screenings were attributable to mandates that are not consistent with 2014 recommendations of the American Cancer Society.

Citation

Bitler, Marianne P., and Christopher S. Carpenter. 2016. "Health Insurance Mandates, Mammography, and Breast Cancer Diagnoses." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 8 (3): 39-68. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20120298

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • G22 Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
  • H51 National Government Expenditures and Health
  • H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
  • I12 Health Behavior
  • I13 Health Insurance, Public and Private
  • J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
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