Firms' demand for employment-based mental health benefits
By: Judith Shinogle, David Salkever.
Contributors: Salkever, David S.; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series ;; working paper 11436; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) ;; working paper no. 11436.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Insurance, Mental health -- United States -- States; Employer-sponsored health insurance -- United States -- States
Description: "Employment-based health insurance is the main source of health coverage for the non-elderly.  Few previous studies have examined the factors that impact employer decision-making in selecting the coverage to offer to their employees and none have examined generosity of mental health coverage.  This paper uses cross-sectional data from a survey of medium to large firms, including information on employee characteristics, to examine the empirical determinants of mental health coverage choices.  We find that the firm's demand for mental health coverage is strongly influenced by employee characteristics.  We also find that certain state and local policy interventions directed at enhancing access to mental health care have impacts on coverage decisions.  Specifically, public provision of mental health lowers mental health coverage generosity and parity legislation increases mental health generosity.  Future research with panel data is warranted to examine the causal effects of these policies"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Title from PDF file as viewed on 7/8/2005.
Also available in print.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.