Health insurance coverage and marriage behavior: Is there evidence of marriage lock?

• Published in: International studies of economics Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 136 - 158
• Main Author: Chen, Tianxu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: College Station John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2023; Wiley
• Subjects: COBRA 1985-US; Divorce; Employers; employer‐sponsored health insurance; Health insurance; Insurance coverage; Marriage; marriage behavior; marriage lock; Medicare; Premiums; Retirement; United States > US

Premiums and eligibility for health insurance may cause a “marriage lock,” in which couples stay married for the sake of maintaining health insurance coverage. By using the Health and Retirement Study for adults aged 60–70, I examine whether employer‐based health insurance coverage for the spouse di...