Determinants of Access to Job-related Health Insurance

Abstract

Given that employer-sponsored health insurance plans are the single largest source of private health insurance, understanding the characteristics of those occupations that provide access to job-related health insurance may help researchers and policy makers focus on ways to broaden health insurance coverage. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether occupational and worker characteristics explain access to job related health insurance. It also examines the significance of those characteristics on having the employer or union pay for at least part of any job related health insurance. This study aggregates the Current Population Survey data on individuals into occupation level data to distinguish between jobs and occupations. This paper highlights some general trends in the characteristics of both occupations and workers that relate to the likelihood that an occupation will provide access to health insurance.