The Health Consequences of Changes in Private Insurance Before and After Retirement

• In Event: 349 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 10. Work and Retirement

Abstract

Objectives. This study evaluated the impact of insurance coverage on the self-assessed health, physical limitations, and symptoms of depression after transitioning from full time work to full retirement.

Method. The Health and Retirement Study was used to estimate two-stage selection equations of (a) the risk of transitioning to retirement, and (b) the impact of insurance coverage on health, net of the risk of selecting into retirement

Results. Both employer provided insurance coverage and non-group insurance were generally associated with better health after transitioning to retirement, but Medicare coverage was not associated with after the transition to retirement. Neither Medicare coverage nor non-group insurance moderated the association between employer provided insurance and subsequent health.

Discussion. Results indicated that private insurance coverage is an important contextual factor for the health of new retirees. Those who maintain steady coverage tend to fare the best in retirement. This highlights the dynamic nature of changes in health in later life

Author

• Ben Lennox Kail, Georgia State University