Economics ETDs
Publication Date
Fall 11-11-2023
Abstract
This dissertation is a collection of three essays that study the interconnection between the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans and disability claiming and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on prescription drug utilization for anxiety and depression among Medicaid enrollees. The first essay examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on prescription drug use for anxiety and depression among Medicaid enrollees, using Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of prescription drugs for anxiety and depression relative to prescription drugs use for all conditions, but decreased prescription drugs use for anxiety and depression per Medicaid enrollee. The second essay studies the relationship between the pricing of ACA Marketplace plans and disability claiming through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and SSI for Children programs. The results document that certain subgroup populations are affected by changes in the premium of a 30-year-old-with-two-children health plan. Individuals living in states or GRAs with higher unemployment rates, poverty ratios, high school graduation rates, and work limitation rates become less likely to apply for SSI programs to get health insurance if the premium of a 30-year-old-with-two-children health plan increases. Populations living in GRAs where there are higher percentages of non-Hispanic whites or individuals reporting difficulties with daily tasks or work limitations, meanwhile, become more likely to apply. The third essay decomposes the effects of prevalence of pre-existing mental health conditions, state-level demographics, COVID-19 policies, and other state-level healthcare policies in explaining the changes in anxiety and depression prescription during the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds heterogeneous effects due to specific factors, such as the pre-existing prevalence of mental health conditions, state-level demographics (race and ethnicity), COVID-19 policies (lockdown, mask, and school closure mandates), and state-level healthcare policies (Medicaid expansion, and limited PDMP use mandate,) on use of prescription drugs for anxiety and depression during the pandemic.
Degree Name
Economics
Level of Degree
Doctoral
Department Name
Department of Economics
First Committee Member (Chair)
Dr. Sarah See Stith
Second Committee Member
Dr. Richard Santos
Third Committee Member
Dr. Brady Patrick Horn
Fourth Committee Member
Dr. Xiaoxue Li
Fifth Committee Member
Dr. Jacob Miguel Vigil
Project Sponsors
For Chapter 3: Social Security Administration (through the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Financial Security’s (CFS) Retirement and Disability Research Center (RDRC)
Language
English
Keywords
Affordable Care Act, COVID-19, Difference-in-Differences and Event Study Model, Disability Claiming, Drug Utilization for Mental Health, Oaxaca Decomposition
Document Type
Dissertation
Recommended Citation
Naher, Samsun. "THREE ESSAYS ON DISABILITY CLAIMING AND MENTAL HEALTH." (2023). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/econ_etds/152
